§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was to her 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. [123078]
§ Ms HewittFor parts (a and f) of the question I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 July 2003,Official Report, column 500W.
For parts (b, c, d and e) the DTI has devolved to local management the authorisation of travel claims for its staff, subject to checking procedures. It does not record the cost of taxis, train travel, helicopters or airline tickets used by staff separately. To obtain accurate data for the information requested would entail disproportionate cost.