Wales Office | Swyddfa Cymru
Gwydyr House
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2ER
TÅ· Gwydyr
Whitehall
Llundain
SW1A 2ER
Tel/Ffôn: 020 7270 0534
Fax/Ffacs: 020 7270 6146
E-mail/E-bost: [email address]
Ref:09FOI254
09 June 2009
Ms Margery White
Request-11290-
[email address]
Dear Ms White,
Thank you for your request of 5th May 2009 under the Freedom of Information Act.
You asked for details of second home/duty away from home allowances paid to our staff.
To clarify your request, we have staff based in offices in London and Cardiff. The office
has to work in both capitals. The Wales Office has benefitted from engaging a mix of
Ministry of Justice staff and staff on loan from the Welsh Assembly Government. This is a
longstanding arrangement, deriving from practice in the old Welsh Office, before
devolution. Several need occasionally to work away from their permanent office, at our
other office or elsewhere. Meal or incidental expenses incurred in being away, including
the costs of staying overnight in a hotel if necessary, are then payable within various limits
against certificates of actual expenditure, and receipts are normally required.
We also have a number of staff on loan to us from the Welsh Assembly Government, who
would normally be based in Cardiff but whom we need to work in London on a regular
basis, typically four days a week through most weeks of the year. In these cases we may
offer detached duty terms, which do provide for a ‘second home’. Our detached duty
policy entitles eligible staff to re-claim (within limits) what they have paid in rent, utility bills,
and council tax for accommodation here, and costs of travel home at weekends. These
arrangements cover rented accommodation only, not costs of ownership. We do not pay
any other costs. All claims must be accompanied by receipts before they are approved for
payment. The costs of these detached duty arrangements are shown as requested in the
attached table.
If you are unhappy with the decision made on your request, you may ask for an internal
review. You should contact Alan Cogbill, Director of the Wales Office at the above address
if you wish to complain.
Cardiff Office / Swyddfa Caerdydd
Wales Office, Discovery House, Scott Harbour, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF10 4HA.
Swyddfa Cymru, TÅ· Discovery, Harbwr Scott, Bae Caerdydd, Caerdydd, CF10 4HA.
Website: www.walesoffice.gov.uk / Gwefan: www.swyddfa.cymru.gov.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner
can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact the Wales Office at the above
address. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Wales Office
Wales Office | Swyddfa Cymru
Gwydyr House
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2ER
TÅ· Gwydyr
Whitehall
Llundain
SW1A 2ER
Tel/Ffôn: 020 7270 0534
Fax/Ffacs: 020 7270 6146
E-mail/E-bost: [email address]
TRAIN
DATE
No. of staff on DD
AMOUNT CLAIMED
TRAVEL
TOTAL
% OF BUDGET
2004-05
17
£ 182,964.90 £ 16,487.45 £ 199,452.35
5.29
2005-06
20
£ 202,827.54 £ 17,409.70 £ 220,237.24
5.38
2006-07
17
£ 133,129.48 £ 11,241.00 £ 144,370.48
3.32
2007-08
14
£ 130,470.44 £ 4,751.00 £ 135,221.44
2.55
2008-09
10
£ 129,661.71 £ 4,848.00 £ 134,509.71
2.66
Cardiff Office / Swyddfa Caerdydd
Wales Office, Discovery House, Scott Harbour, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF10 4HA.
Swyddfa Cymru, TÅ· Discovery, Harbwr Scott, Bae Caerdydd, Caerdydd, CF10 4HA.
Website: www.walesoffice.gov.uk / Gwefan: www.swyddfa.cymru.gov.uk
Document Outline
