The Ministry of Defence is spending almost £15,000 a WEEK on cabs.
The department run by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace spent £756,000 ferrying senior staff and VIPs around the country last year.
The sum covers taxis and chauffeur driven limousines, with a total of 4,050 bookings. In 2020 during Covid restrictions around £310,000 was spent, a Freedom of Information request confirmed.
One booking cost £5,383 for several vehicles over a three-day period to drive 70 miles from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, to the MoD’s Whitehall HQ.
A first class train ticket from Oxford to London bought on the day of travel is £64 for a one-way trip. The bookings were made under a £12million contract used by the MoD for non-military lease and rental cars and taxis and private cars.
The Phoenix II contract is operated by defence firm Babcock International. It’s chief David Lockwood earns almost £2million a year.
Caren Evans, national union officer for defence at Unite, said: “This is a kick in the teeth for civilian defence staff. The MoD must rein in unnecessary luxuries for senior staff and give its workers a pay rise.”
The MOD said: “Our staff have to travel to locations not always accessible by public transport and a hire car or taxi is the most efficient and cost effective way to travel.
“We are committed to delivering value for money.”
