The Home Office spent £325,207.78 on taxis during 2011-12 just one third of the sum which it spent in 2008-09, under the previous Administration. Due to the restructuring of the Home Department over the past years, we do not have details for Identity and Passport Service, Criminal Records Bureau and National Fraud Authority for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 and the figures for these years do not include such organisations.

In addition the Home Office taxi policy summary states that staff should avoid using taxis wherever possible, using instead public transport, such as, where available, train, bus or tube and will be reimbursed for taxi fares only if the line manager is satisfied that the cost was incurred out of necessity.

To provide information on departmental expenditure on taxis for civil servants, would involve disproportionate cost.

The Department's policy on travel by taxi (or use of the Government car service) is that it is not an entitlement and, where possible, journeys should be made by public transport. Taxi fares may be reimbursed only where there is no other suitable form of public transport, or where heavy luggage has to be transported, or where the saving in officials' time is important. Where necessary, a standing arrangement may be made, say, for the conveyance of a large number of files from a court office to a separate court building.

Reflecting our responsibilities for local government, housing, planning and communities, the work of the Department involves staff travelling to different parts of the country.

The Department spent £152,243 in 2011-12; this compares with £296,710 in 2009-10 and represents a halving of such spending.

I would add that guidance to staff states that taxis can be used in circumstances such as:

no other method of public transport is available (e.g. when travelling late at night);

when carrying heavy baggage or equipment;

if one is unable to use public transport because of pregnancy or a temporary or permanent disability;

if there will be an overall saving including any claim for subsistence or to ensure journey connection or arrival time; and

it is more cost-effective when travelling in a group.

As was the case under the previous Administration, such records are categorised alongside other spend as travel charges.

Core DEFRA spent £62,680 on taxis in 2011-12.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent £24,324.62 on taxis in the year 2011-12 (principal use was the Olympics).

The total DFID spent on taxis within the UK and abroad for year 2011-12 is £228,000. All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

During the financial year 2011-12, my Department spent a total of £26,811 on taxis.

The Department spent £51,000 on taxis in the period April 2011 to March 2012.

The Scotland Office spent £19,967 on taxis in 2011-12.

The total spent on taxis in 2011-12 was £76,640.24. This figure is exclusive of VAT. The comparable figures for 2010-11 and 2009-10 were £97,875.40 and £211,207.09 respectively.

Taxi hire is for use by all HM Treasury Group staff for business use only.

The use of a taxi should generally be made where it will save official time or where a disabled member of staff is travelling to attend an official meeting. However, it may be justifiable to use a taxi if an official is carrying classified documents, heavy or bulky luggage or when in an unknown locality as a result of official business. Taxis may also be used when travelling home or to work late at night (after 10.00 pm) or early morning (before 6.30 am) when an alternative method of transport is not available.

Taxis are defined as a car available with a driver for hire, including a minicab.

[holding answer 15 January 2013]: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

As was the case under previous Administrations, the use of taxis in the Cabinet Office is only permitted in line with strict departmental guidance.

Records are not held centrally of all taxi use by my Department.

[holding answer 15 January 2013]: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

As was the case under previous Administrations, the use of taxis in the Cabinet Office is only permitted in line with strict departmental guidance.

Records are not held centrally of all taxi use by my Department.