§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was to his Department for(a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997. [123087]
§ Maria EagleFor information on ministerial cars and drivers I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 13 November 2003,Official Report, columns 397–98W.
The amount spent for official use of taxis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
1341WThe amount spent for official use of UK rail travel is1 as follows:
£ 1997–98 Information not available 1998–99 Information not available 1999–2000 7,442,100 2000–01 6,606,657 2001–02 7,621,545 2002–03 11,919,783 Note:
There has been no use of helicopters, at Departmental expense, since 1997.
The figures for air travel (UK and Overseas)1 are as follows:
£ 1997–98 Information not available 1998–99 Information not available 1999–2000 2,860,718 2000–01 2,879,011 2001–02 3,550,538 2002–03 5,306,126 Note:
There has been no use of chartered flights, at Departmental expense, since 1997.
1Figures relate to the former Department of Social Security and the Department for Work and Pensions from 2001.
Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of the lists covering the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2003 are available in the Library.
All official travel in the Department is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Travel by Ministers'—copies of which are available in the Library.