To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department issues on whether members of staff may claim for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class. (211387)

All departmental staff may travel in first class carriages on trains where there are no seats available in standard class carriages. However, staff are asked only to travel if it is necessary and when official business cannot be settled by any other methods such as telephone or video conferencing.