asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many United Kingdom based civil servants serving in Northern Ireland receive free air or sea travel between Northern Ireland and their homes in the United Kingdom.

There are about 240 staff serving on short periods of detached duty in Northern Ireland from Great Britain who may return home to rejoin their families at each weekend in accordance with the normal detached duty rules. In addition about 400 staff who have been permanently transferred or recruited from Great Britain or who are serving on detached duty from Great Britain and have been joined by their families may be reimbursed the return cost of conveying themselves, their spouse, dependent children and motor car by sea to Great Britain once a year.