Departmental Travel Costs

Anne Main
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his Answer of 10 July 2006, Official Report, column 1408W, on departmental travel costs, (1) what the average cost of flights was in each month; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what steps his Department is taking to reduce the (a) cost and (b) number of internal flights for his staff; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what the total cost was of these flights in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Thomas
The average cost of flights in each month in 2005 was as follows:

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|         |Average cost (£)|
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|January  |215.84          |
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|February |222.83          |
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|March    |203.66          |
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|April    |241.70          |
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|May      |242.61          |
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|June     |231.66          |
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|July     |207.54          |
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|August   |227.53          |
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|September|218.33          |
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|October  |239.41          |
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|November |224.88          |
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|December |122.87          |
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DFID's domestic travel policies ensure that staff travel only when necessary, to minimise cost and environmental impact from carbon emissions. Only top management staff may buy business class tickets. However, DFID benefits from an arrangement used by a number of Government Departments whereby travellers on flexible economy tickets may be upgraded to business class at no extra cost. We are keen to reduce the number of internal flights and time spent travelling. We instruct staff to consider whether meetings are essential, and we have invested in modern communication systems, including video conference facilities, to reduce the need for travel.