Written question asked by Jon Trickett (Labour) on Monday, 19 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 March 2012. It was answered by Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 23 April 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Taxis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.

Answer: The core Department has significantly reduced expenditure on taxis over the last two financial years and total staff expenditure on taxis has fallen from £38,058 between August 2009 and January 2010 to £26,249 between August 2011 and January 2012. In the same period ministerial expenditure on taxis has fallen from £11,477 to £2,939—a reduction of nearly 75%.BIS has taken strong action to tighten controls on business travel policy, reduce expenditure on travel and encourages the use of the most cost-effective modes of transport. Staff are only allowed to use taxis in exceptional circumstances, for example: when public transport is not available, or when the line manager agrees that taking a taxi will help keep a staff member safe when overseas or during unsocial hours or where sharing the use of a taxi with other colleagues is more cost-effective.

Secondary information