|  |
Home |  | |
News | | |
Cheryl Gillan | | |
James Elles MEP | | |
Councils & Councillors | | |
Policies | | |
Events | | |
Contact or Join us | | |
Local Association | |
|
In this section |
|
Cheryl Gillan says 'every little helps' and axes first class rail travel for Wales Office officials
Cheryl Gillan, the new Conservative Welsh secretary, has banned all of her officials from travelling first class on train journeys.
Cheryl Gillan said: "We are looking to make savings that represent real value for money. As every family knows, every little helps."
The Wales Office is thought to the first to ban first class rail travel for all staff. The move will be seen as symbolic of the need to make cost savings across Whitehall over the next few months.
Previously, around 10 senior civil servants, paid more than £40,000 a year, at the department were allowed to travel by first class rail. A spokesman said the perk was being withdrawn immediately.
Mrs Gillan disclosed the change as she made her first visit to Wales since taking the job in the coalition Government.
Quoting the slogan of supermarket chain Tesco, she told The Daily Telegraph: “We are looking to make savings that represent real value for money. As every family knows, every little helps.”
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, urged other Cabinet ministers to follow suit. He said: “It is good to see ministers leading by example on saving taxpayers’ money.
"It is totally unnecessary for politicians to always travel First Class, and such waste should be cut out.
"There are some really big spending cuts that must be made to balance the books, and it is encouraging that some Ministers have already started to cut back personally. Hopefully the whole Cabinet will follow this example."
| |
