[UK] Fighting to end world poverty - but flying in business class

from The Scotsman

OFFICIALS from the government department responsible for fighting global poverty routinely fly business class, instead of using cheaper economy tickets when travelling between London and Scotland, The Scotsman has learned.

Figures from the Department for International Development (DFID) show that it spends as much as £426 on internal UK flights.

Last year, the department is estimated to have spent £230,000 on almost 1,000 business-class tickets between London and Scotland. An economy-class ticket from London Heathrow to Glasgow on BMI, the department's chosen airline, can cost less than £100.

The widespread use of business-class tickets for the short journey was brought to light by DFID officials who were unhappy at what they saw as the extravagant use of taxpayers' money.

The department has a large office in East Kilbride, and officials frequently shuttle between there and its head office in London. DFID's own figures show that, in most cases, they opt for the increased comfort - and expense - of business class for the 55-minute flight. Of 1,201 journeys recorded between Heathrow and Glasgow by DFID officials last year, barely one in five was economy class. In all, 949 trips were recorded as "non-economy class".

The department's figures also show that the most it paid for an internal British flight last year was £426.50.

The issue was first raised in parliament by the Tory MP Anne Main, who is understood to have taken an interest after being contacted by a DFID staff member concerned about the travel arrangements.

That concern was echoed by Susan Kramer, the Liberal Democrats' international development spokeswoman.

"It doesn't seem much of a hardship to use economy class on a brief flight within the UK," Mrs Kramer said. "When dealing with alleviating poverty for the world's poorest people, we have to be extra careful when taking small luxuries on the tax-payer's expense."

The rules governing civil servants' travel are set down in the Civil Service Management Code, which dictates that "departments and agencies must ensure that staff use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances".

Last night, a DFID spokesman insisted that the flights did represent value for public money.

"DFID has secured a deal with BMI, whereby travellers on flexible economy tickets are upgraded to business class at no extra cost," the spokesman said.

"These arrangements are used by a number of other government departments, and have the benefit that passengers can work in the airline lounge."

The average cost of Heathrow-Glasgow flights taken by DFID staff last year was £230, the spokesman added.

Official records show that the total amount spent by the department on airfares during the financial year 2004-5 was £9,224,422.

The department was told last week by the National Audit Office to do more to demonstrate that the £328 million it spends supporting "civil society organisations" in developing countries is being properly spent.