asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much each rank of official in the Northern Ireland Office spent on taxis during the past financial year. [HL5637]

Due to the processes involved in making payments for expenses to officials, it would be possible to provide details of the reimbursement of taxi fares for each rank only at disproportionate cost.

The Northern Ireland Office keeps the cost of travel on official business under regular review. Departmental guidance requires all staff to use the most efficient means of transport taking account of travel costs, time and incidental expenses, for example, the cost of car parking. The use of taxis, when compared to all the alternatives including public transport, is at times the most cost effective means of travel for the purposes of official business. The policy applies to all grades of staff.