To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facility is available for senior civil servants in his Department to use credit cards supplied by the Department. (72873)

The Department does not issue official credit cards. The Department uses charge cards which are issued to officials, including some senior civil servants, to meet specific business needs.

The Department has adopted the Government Procurement Card for purchasing low-value goods and services, and Corporate Cards for some official travel and related expenditure, issued under the umbrella of the OGCbuying.solutions pre-tendered National Framework contract.

At the end of April 2006, six Government Procurement Cards and 21 Corporate Cards were held by senior civil servants.