The Speaker using air miles

[lynbrown]

Will there be an investigation into stories that the Speaker used air miles ( incurred on parliamentary business) to fly his family up and down for holidays? As an ex- civil servant, I know that this is a bad infringement and no civil servant would get away with it.

[New Judge]

1.There will be an investigation.

2. No irregularities will be uncovered. (Or any that are will be �administrative errors� with no intent towards dishonesty).

3. The Speaker will continue in his post until he decides to quit.

[lynbrown]

Sadly, I fear you may be right. It makes me sick, what a terrible state of affairs. It was bad enough John Prestcott abusing his position - and his secretary - but they all seem to be making mugs of the honest working man.

[Gevs1966]

I don't see the problem here.
To get air miles you need to be a member of a loyalty scheme affiliated to the airline. This is a personal membership and not a corporate one.
The air miles you collect are in reward for using the airline and can be redeemed at your leisure. This does not cost the taxpayer anything and if you were to go to any company in the world where employees need to travel you will find the smae things happening there.
Mountain out of molehill comes to mind.

[lynbrown]

Hi Gevs. Here is the problem. If you travel on business as part of your work in the Civil Service you will amass air miles on tickets paid for, not by you, but by the taxpayers - ie, you and me. Some civil servants are up and down to London every week. Why should you then get a free holiday airline trip, based on flights you never paid for? Thats why its against the regulations.