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Written question asked by Rebecca Smith (Conservative) on Monday, 6 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 July 2026. It was answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour) on Monday, 13 July 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Department for Transport: Aviation

Question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 862 on Department for Transport: Aviation, if he will set out the policy on (a) civil servants and (b) Ministers going on holiday to a foreign destination adjacent to an official visit overseas.

Answer

There are strict controls on Cabinet office employees travelling overseas with departmental IT. The Senior Responsible Officer (a Senior Civil Servant in Cabinet Office) is accountable for ensuring that all the potential implications of the individual being abroad have been considered. Cabinet Office employees are not permitted to claim for travel and subsistence expenses for personal travel or international remote working.

The Ministerial Code sets out principles relating to ministerial travel for official business. Section 10.1 of the Ministerial Code states that “Ministers must ensure that they always make efficient and cost‑effective travel arrangements. Official transport should not normally be used for travel arrangements arising from party or private business, except where this is justified on security grounds.” Section 10.4 states “When ministers travel on official business, their travel expenses should be borne by the departmental vote.”

Furthermore, section 8.13 of the Ministerial Code notes that “If a minister meets an external organisation or individual and finds themselves discussing official business without an official present (for example, at a social occasion or on holiday) any significant content should be passed back to the department as soon as possible after the event.”

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
16288
Session
2026-27
Related items
Department for Transport: Aviation
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Aviation Department for Transport Official visits
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk