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Written question asked by Ian Stewart (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 November 2009. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 December 2009 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Departmental Taxis

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department has with private hire taxi companies; and what expenditure his Department has incurred against each such contract in each of the last three years.
Answer

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arms length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, currently uses two contracts with private hire taxi companies. These contracts belong to the Department of Finance and Personnel in Belfast and the Cabinet Office in London. The names of the taxi companies cannot be disclosed for staff security reasons.The increase in expenditure on taxis in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) followed a review in 2007 when the Department adopted a policy which made greater use of taxis rather than private hire cars. While this change in policy has led to an increase in the cost of taxis, it has generated estimated whole year net savings of £150,000The following table shows the total expenditure incurred by the NIO against these contracts in each of the last three years:

£
2006-07 34,716.05
2007-08 49,555.89
2008-09 111,766.27

Each member of staff is advised that, before any business related journey is made, the most cost effective means of transport must be considered. Where the use of public transport or private car is not possible or economic, then the journey may be made by taxi.The NIO keeps the cost of travel on official business under regular review.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
501 c598-9W; 300838
Session
2009-10
Subjects
Taxis Northern Ireland Office
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk