Dear Mr Walker

Freedom of Information Request F2009-124

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 29 May 2009 in which you asked for information on DFID's staff travel between London and Glasgow.

I have interpreted your request as relating to financial year 2008/09 and I will answer your questions in turn.

1. The number of air journeys made annually by DFID staff between London and Glasgow (or vice versa).

During financial year 2008/09 there were a total of 4612 single air journeys between London and Glasgow (or vice versa). DFID has two UK Headquarters offices, one in East Kilbride and one in London.

2. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by this travel.

The amount of carbon emissions for this air travel is 922.4 tonnes. This is calculated on the basis of 0.2 tonnes equalling one single journey between London and Glasgow (or vice versa). All of DFID's carbon emissions from air travel are offset through a payment to the Government Carbon Offset Scheme, which is managed by The Department of Energy and Climate Change.  The scheme ensures that emissions are offset through high quality carbon credits which meet the Clean Development Mechanism Gold Standard or equivalent benefits. 

3. The number of rail journeys made annually by DFID staff between London and Glasgow (or vice versa).

During financial year 2008/09 there were a total of 1322 single rail journeys between London and Glasgow (or vice versa) which had been centrally booked in advance by our travel agent. These figures do not include trips taken at short notice and arranged by staff directly, which are not counted centrally.

4. The five most frequent flyers between London and Glasgow (or vice versa) on the DFID staff.

I can confirm that one of the five most frequent flyers was Mr Dave Fish, Director of East and Central Africa Division. The others were less senior civil servants whose names we are withholding under Section 40 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act. We believe that releasing details would breach the legitimate expectation of an individual's right to protection of their personal information. Section 40 is an absolute exemption under the Freedom of Information Act and there is, therefore no requirement to balance the public interest.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me quoting reference number F2009-124.

If you are unhappy with the service we have provided and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to Stephen Latham, Head of Knowledge and Information Management at the address shown above or email him at [email address].

If you do make a complaint and are not content with the outcome, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted DFID's complaints procedure. You can contact the Information Commissioner at:

The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

John McGinn

Openness Unit

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