PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Travel (11 December 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on (a) taxis, (b) first class train tickets and (c) business class air travel in each of the last five years.

Asked by:
Lucy Powell (Labour)

The following table details spend on Taxis, First Class rail and Business Class air travel. Spend on First Class rail and Business Class air travel is through our contract with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel management company, Hogg Robinson Group plc.

Travel tickets booked directly by members of staff could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

2010/11: Taxis: £318,689; First Class Train: £38,081; Business Class Air: £4,785,512
2011/12: Taxis: £329,042; First Class Train: £24,455; Business Class Air: £5,167,379
2012/13: Taxis: £348,733; First Class Train: £19,724; Business Class Air: £6,103,300
2013/14: Taxis: £403,856; First Class Train: £1,590; Business Class Air: £5,421,348
2014- October ’14: Taxis: £135,174; First Class Train: £313; Business Class Air: £2,952,555

FCO Policy is that public transport should be used whenever possible.

Like all Government Departments, the FCO ensures we use taxpayers' money very carefully to help reduce the overall costs of Government. Staff are therefore only allowed to use taxis in exceptional circumstances: when public transport is not available, or when their line manager agrees that taking a taxi will help keep a staff member safe during unsocial hours. In addition to approver checks, expense claims are subject to retrospective audit checks.

FCO staff travelling by air are required to book the lowest fare possible, subject to budget holder approval Business class travel may be used when it is the more cost-effective option, if staff are required to work immediately upon arrival or on medical grounds.

All FCO staff are directed to use standard class for rail travel unless there are exceptional circumstances e.g. illness, disability or where first class facilities are essential for working while travelling. In these exceptional circumstances, prior line management approval must be given.

Answered by:
Sir David Lidington (Conservative)
5 January 2015