To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the mileage rates applicable from January 1999 to staff, indicating changes which have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of travel. [79523]

The standard motor mileage rates reimbursed to staff in the core Department are set out in the following table:

Engine size	Up to 4,000 miles	Over 4,000 miles
Up to 1500cc	35p/mile	20p/mile
1501cc+	45p/mile	25p/mile

The Department has strict rules to ensure that any travel on official business is only authorised when it is absolutely necessary and that cars may be used only when they are the most cost effective method of transport. The standard mileage allowances, which have stood without change since April 1997, are designed to discourage the use of cars with an engine capacity over 2,000cc.A close review of travelling arrangements is planned as part of the Green Transport initiative. This will explore whether more could be done to encourage the use of cycling and public transport.