Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Monday, 31 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 April 2005. It was answered by Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 April 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how how many occasions departmental Ministers have used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years.

Answer: Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the Department's Ministers used the Queen's Flight in each of the past five years. [213443] Mr. Paul Murphy: Travel by Ministers makes clear that special flights may be authorised when a scheduled service is not available, or when it is essential to travel by air, but the requirements of official or parliamentary business or security considerations or urgency preclude the journey being made by a scheduled service. In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list published in 1999 covers the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Where RAF/Private Charter aircraft are used this is shown in the list. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2004-05 will be published in due course.

Secondary information