§ Lord Maginnis of Drumglassasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the total number of Northern Ireland Office ministerial and Northern Ireland Civil Service flights, during each of the past three years, between Belfast and London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City airports. [HL3452]
§ Baroness AmosThe number of ministerial and Northern Ireland Civil Service flights between Belfast and the named airports is set out below:
2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 London Heathrow 10,324 14,717 14,186 London Gatwick 4,666 4,500 2,890 London City 556 541 140 These figures relate only to single sector flights booked through the contracted travel agency services and do not include any journeys undertaken and which were booked through other channels, as to obtain this information would be at disproportionate cost to departments.
63WA
§ Lord Maginnis of Drumglassasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they organise Northern Ireland ministerial and Civil Service air travel between Belfast and either London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London City airports; whether they have fixed price contracts; and which airlines are invited to tender directly to Government to provide this service. [HL3454]
§ Baroness AmosAir travel for Ministers and officials between Belfast and the named airports is generally organised through a contracted travel agent. Contracts for these services are awarded following a competitive process.
The agent identifies the best value air fare to meet the business need including consideration of flights by all airlines flying to the required destinations. The contract with the travel agent is currently on a fee per booking basis and there are no direct contractual agreements tendered to airlines for official air travel.