Fury as civil servants claim thousands in expenses to visit own offices – ‘absurd’ | Politics | News
The government is under pressure to ban civil servants from visiting their own offices. Senior civil servants leaving London offices as part of cost-cutting measures are claiming thousands of pounds in travel expenses for meetings at their headquarters in the capital, rather than attending from regional offices, new figures show.
It is reported that more than 23,000 public service jobs have moved out of London since 2020, with staff now working in satellite offices in more affordable areas across the country. A Government spokesman insisted it was significantly cheaper to pay the costs than to keep the expensive London offices. However, both the Conservatives and the Reform Party criticized the spending.
Alex Burghart MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: Telegram It is “completely ridiculous”.
Reform UK’s head of government ministerial preparations, Danny Kruger MP, added: “This is a slap in the face to every hard-working taxpayer who has to commute at their own expense to pay privileged civil servants with gold-plated pensions.”
Government figures show authorities billed a total of £139,719.97 for travel costs, food and overnight accommodation in just three months.
The Ministry of Justice was hit with the highest bill, with expenses totaling £42,498.98 claimed between October and December last year, The Telegraph reported.
A senior Department for Transport civil servant claimed £7,019.58 for nine trips to the London office (including overnight accommodation and meals), averaging £779.95 per trip.
The Taxpayers Alliance called on the Government to ban the practice and for senior staff outside the capital to attend via video link. There is reportedly no single policy governing what expenses civil servants can claim for.
A Government spokesman said: “Officials cannot claim travel expenses to and from their offices – only for official travel to other locations. “The cost of official travel is miniscule compared to the £94 million we have saved by closing 11 office buildings in London.
“A third of senior civil servants now work in government departments outside London, in the communities they serve. These expenses reflect routine travel to carry out their roles and responsibilities.”
