To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 12 May (WA 194–5) concerning the use of taxis by the Northern Ireland Office, what information concerning the use of individual taxis they will release. [HL572]

Much of the information available on the use of taxis constitutes personal data which if released would breach the first principle of the Data Protection Act 1998, namely the fair and lawful processing of personal data, and is therefore not available for release. However, the department will release information on the cost of invoiced taxi journeys.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of providing taxis for Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office in the last 12 months. [HL837]

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arm’s-length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, spent £34 on providing taxis for Ministers in the last 12 months.

The NIO keeps the cost of travel on official business under regular review.