Ministers’ Rail Travel Expenses Revealed

Published on Monday, 25 July 2011 09:25

Assembly Ministers spent £40,000 on train travel over the last two years.

Figures obtained by the Welsh Conservatives – under the Freedom of Information Act - show the total expenditure for each Minister during 2009/10 and 2010/11.

In a separate written question, Carwyn Jones confirms that 'Ministers qualify for first class rail travel, as stated in... the Ministerial Code'.

He goes on to say that information is not held on 'the class of ticket purchased'.

The Wales Office banned first class rail travel in May 2010.

Shadow Minister for Finance, Paul Davies AM, said, "It's about time the Welsh Labour Government dumped its luxurious travel perks and followed the lead of the Wales Office.

"Taxpayers have a right to know that Ministers are refusing to give up their lavish first class lifestyle – particularly in the current climate.

"The First Minister approved the latest Ministerial Code a few weeks ago. He had a clear opportunity to save money and send out the right message but refused.

"On top of this, he has no idea how much he – or the rest of his Cabinet - has spent on first class tickets. It is staggering that that no information is kept on the types of ticket purchased. Not only is that lacking in any transparency, it's also worryingly frivolous."

The First Minister replied to a written question from Nick Ramsay AM.

Mr Ramsay said, "Ministers already have an expensively comfy fleet of cars to chauffer them from A to B. Why do they insist on clinging to swish train travel as well?

"I am certain that the tens of thousands of pounds spent on tickets would be dramatically reduced if they used a bit of common sense.

"It's time the Ministerial Code was changed and train travel restricted to standard class."