To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 27W, on carbon emissions: Government departments, how much air mileage incurred through departmental travel was used to calculate the departmental payment to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund in each year that his Department has participated in the fund, broken down by (a) domestic, (b) short haul and (c) long haul flights. (222084)

2006-07 was the first year that the Department offset the emissions resulting from official air travel. In that year the total distance travelled by air, for which a payment was made to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund, was 3,620,190 km. We do not have data for this year broken down further.

In 2007-08 the distance travelled by air was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether those staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies who are entitled to business class or first class air travel are permitted to (i) travel in a cheaper class to the destination and (ii) benefit in monetary terms or kind from the saving. (222090)

Staff members are expected to travel in economy class when travelling by air. Travel expenses are reimbursed based on actual costs incurred and staff are expected to use the Department's travel contractor for ticket booking. Staff are not permitted to travel economy class and claim reimbursement for first class tickets, profiting from the difference. Further, any benefits or compensation obtained from business travel or similar activities is repaid to the Department and cannot be put to personal use, e.g. compensation offered by a travel company for delays in arriving at the destination.

All travel within the Department is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Department's staff expenses policy.

Departmental agencies apply similar rules. No member of staff should benefit in monetary terms or kind from any savings accruing from their travel arrangements.