HC Deb 16 June 2004 vol 422 cc1014-5W
David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many journeys were made by helicopter by each Minister in his Department and its predecessors in each of the last 10 years; and what the journey length was in each case. [175727]

Hilary Benn

In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, 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. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These contain information reaching back to 1995–06. Information for earlier years and for the means of travel could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and in some cases will no longer be held. Information for 2003–04 will be published in due course

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 Libraries of the House.

David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the travel costs incurred(a) by his Department and (b) by each Minister within his Department, for each of the last 10 years. [175647]

Hilary Benn

Figures for travel costs within administration cost; budgets for years for which information is readily available are as follows. Travel costs for 2003–04 are currently being collated. All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in DFID's staff handbook.

£
Amount
2001–02 2,358,000
2002–03 2,645,000

In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government has also published on an annual basis the costs of Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate costs and in some cases will no longer be held. Information for 2003–04 will be published in due course. For UK travel by Ministers, information is not available centrally for the last 10 years and to collate this information would incur disproportionate cost.

All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which re available in the Libraries of the House.

Forward to