TaxPayers' Alliance Bulletin - 6th February 2008
The TPA released a report yesterday that despite Government rhetoric about cost efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, 13 Whitehall departments spent over £18.5 million last year on air travel. The report shows that last year a total of over £18.5 million was spent on flights by Government departments and more than half - £10.6 million - went on first class and business class seats. The total bill for public sector flights, including quangos and other bodies, is almost £70 million a year. Shockingly, the Department of Transport is unable to say how much it spends on air travel. "Departments need to be doing all they can to limit their expensive air travel. These figures show that too much is being spent on business class seats, and many departments are making unnecessary journeys abroad. With better management money could be saved. Flying should always be the last option, not the first."
Belfast Telegraph: £3m of public’s money forked out on airline flights for NIO
The Independent: Flights for ministry staff 'cost £18.5m'
The Mirror: The government spent £18.5 million on flights last year, casting doubt on its commitment to budgeting and reducing carbon emissions
Inthenews.co.uk: Jet-setting govt spends £18.5 million on flights
Council Tax protest in Morden
TPA activist Layla Wells is organising a protest outside Merton Council on February Wednesday 18th. We’ll be joining her to protest any increases in council tax whilst handing out leaflets and collecting petitions for lower tax.
We’ll be meeting at 9am outside Merton Town Hall, a map of which you can find here. The nearest tube is Morden underground station. We’ll be there until 1pm, so feel free to join us at any point during the morning and early afternoon. Layla’s gone to a great effort to organise this protest, so it would be great if you could join us. Please RSVP to our grassroots coordinator, Tim Aker, on tim.aker@taxpayersalliance.com or by phone on 07866 165 760.
Reform BERR and save a billion"It's time BERR changed its focus. Instead of a being a cabaret show for the darlings of the political past, it needs to deliver real help for business and go from showbusiness to showing results. BERR is failing in its mission of helping business. Most of the department is unnecessary, administering programmes that are either underused or failing. Cutting out pointless and ineffective projects could save a huge amount of money, whilst maintaining a strong voice in government for business. With the public finances in such a shocking state, everything must be done to limit unnecessary expenditure and BERR is good place to start."
To read the full report, please click here
There was another encouraging reminder this week that the politicians are starting to sit up and listen to what we are saying. Home Office Minister Tony McNulty was interviewed by Channel 4 News on Monday about the traffic chaos caused by the heavy snow, and showed the power of TPA's waste watchdog status.
He said: "If there were fleets of snow ploughs gathering cobwebs because we never needed them for 15-20 years, we'd have the TaxPayers' Alliance and Lord knows who else complaining about a waste of public money..."
Yes, Tony, you would. Isn't it strange that everyone seeking to justify the fact that large tracts of the country have ground to a halt under this snow points out that it's the heaviest fall since 1991. But what happened in 1991? Or the 1960s? Or in the days the Thames froze over? If they could keep going even then, that suggests that what we lacked this week was not snow ploughs, but guts, gumption and get up and go.
Reminder: Newcastle action day and speaking event
As mentioned last week, the TPA's Campaign Director, Mark Wallace, will be running a petition day and speaking at no less than three events in Newcastle on Thursday 12th February. If you would like to join us signing up people to our petition, we will be meeting at 2pm at the Monument at the top of Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. To notify Mark that you'll be attending, or if you have any questions, please call 07736 009 548 or email mark.wallace@taxayersalliance.com
If you are busy during the day but would like to attend a supper and speaker meeting in the evening, you are more than welcome to come and hear Mark speak that night from 8pm at the Berkeley Tavern, Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay, and the price of £8 includes a hot supper. The event is hosted by North Tyneside Conservative Association, and to obtain tickets or for further information please contact Cllr Frank Austin on 0191 253 2572 or by email at frank.austin@northtyneside.gov.uk.
On Thursday February 19th we’ll be teaming up with the West London Residents Association to protest the waste of taxpayers’ money on “shared space” schemes. These schemes involve doing away with separate roads and pavements and creating shared surfaces where vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists respect each other and live in harmony. Or so you’d think. This will cause all sorts of problems, not least for the blind and partially sighted. So, come join us on the 19th. We’ll be meeting at 10am outside Sloane Square underground station (district and circle lines) and the protest and rally starting at 10.20/10.30am. If you will be joining us please email our grassroots coordinator, Tim Aker, on tim.aker@taxpayersalliance.com or by phone on 07866 165 760.
Campaign: Suing your MP
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