BrianH
At the Start
Row over Duke's travel expenses
Press Association
Sunday January 23, 2005 5:03 PM
The Duke of York spent £325,000 of public money hiring planes and helicopters in just one year, a new report into his travel costs reveals.
Andrew, dubbed "Air Miles Andy" by some observers, was reluctant to travel by train because he felt the service was "unreliable", the National Audit Office report states.
On one occasion in June 2003 the Duke spent nearly £3,000 chartering a helicopter for a 50-mile trip to a lunch in Oxford instead of spending £97 on a train ticket.
The report says: "Travel by rail (which would have cost £97) was considered but rejected as an option, based on the additional hour-and-a-half travelling time that would have been involved and the potential unreliability of the train arrival time."
Another 35-mile trip from London to the headquarters of Johnson and Johnson in High Wycombe in May last year in the Queen's helicopter cost £681, compared to a £17 standard day return by rail.
Andrew spent £3,600 to use an RAF jet for a 90-mile journey to a military base in Somerset in June last year.
And he spent £32,000 on flying to St Andrews during his year as club captain.
The inquiry was led by Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn.
It was carried out in response to queries from Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow Pollok , about the Duke of York's travel expenditure.
Mr Davidson said the National Audit Office had supplied him with the information he requested, and given a copy of the report to the Public Accounts Committee.
Press Association
Sunday January 23, 2005 5:03 PM
The Duke of York spent £325,000 of public money hiring planes and helicopters in just one year, a new report into his travel costs reveals.
Andrew, dubbed "Air Miles Andy" by some observers, was reluctant to travel by train because he felt the service was "unreliable", the National Audit Office report states.
On one occasion in June 2003 the Duke spent nearly £3,000 chartering a helicopter for a 50-mile trip to a lunch in Oxford instead of spending £97 on a train ticket.
The report says: "Travel by rail (which would have cost £97) was considered but rejected as an option, based on the additional hour-and-a-half travelling time that would have been involved and the potential unreliability of the train arrival time."
Another 35-mile trip from London to the headquarters of Johnson and Johnson in High Wycombe in May last year in the Queen's helicopter cost £681, compared to a £17 standard day return by rail.
Andrew spent £3,600 to use an RAF jet for a 90-mile journey to a military base in Somerset in June last year.
And he spent £32,000 on flying to St Andrews during his year as club captain.
The inquiry was led by Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn.
It was carried out in response to queries from Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow Pollok , about the Duke of York's travel expenditure.
Mr Davidson said the National Audit Office had supplied him with the information he requested, and given a copy of the report to the Public Accounts Committee.