£178k spent flying civil servants business class

WE forked out £178,953.15 flying civil servants from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETINI) business class over the past three years, it has been revealed.

Trade Minister Arlene Foster revealed the staggering sum in response to an Assembly Question from East Londonderry MLA John Dallat.

In 2007/8 business class air fares cost £51,560.65; rising to £57,895.92 in 2008/9; and upwards to £69,496.58 in 2009/10. The whopping bill to the taxpayer over the three years was £178,953.15.

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Mr Dallat had asked the Minister to detail the total cost of first class and business class air fares incurred by departmental staff in each of the last three years.

The Minister gave the figures for Business Class travel in the last three financial years but said the Department did not use first class air travel in this period.