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1240/5(5382)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 25th MAY 2010
Question
"Would the Minister advise the cost to the taxpayer of taxi and taxi cabs by the following four Departments over the last 12 months –
- Chief Minister'sDepartment
- Education, Sport and Culture
- Health and SocialServices
- Social Security?"
Answer
Total expenditure on taxis for the period 1 May 2009 to 30 April 2010 for the following departments was:-
Year to 30
April 2010 Department £ Chief Minister's 3,219 Education, Sport and Culture 69,000 Health and Social Services 93,996 Social Security 518 Total Expenditure 166,733
Education, Sport and Culture
97 percent of total expenditure relates to pupil transport mainly special needs students. Due to the dispersed nature of the students' residence it is considered more cost effective to use taxis rather than to purchase buses and employ a large fleet of drivers.
Health and Social Services
62 percent of total expenditure relates to patient travel.
Additional Treasury Minister's comment:
The answers to these questions have been requested to Treasury even though authorisation for expenditure is made at departmental level. As the question has been asked I have asked the departments to justify their level of expenditure. Whilst understanding there is a justified need for travel and efforts to control use are recognised, I have concluded from the answers submitted that procedures could be strengthened to achieve better value for scale of States purchasing of on-Island transport. This is one good example where a properly resourced and centralised procurement department could save the States money on the £100 million non-staff costs. This will be essential to delivering the Comprehensive Spending Review and thank the Deputy for his interest.