asked the Minister for Local Government the mileage allowance given to local authority officials; if he is aware that hackney cars employed by local authorities are paid for at a rate as low as 7½d. per mile; and if he will ensure that in future such hackney cars will be paid at the same rate as officials' cars.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mileage Allowances of Local Authority Officials.
54.
The rates of travelling expenses payable to local authority officers for whom I am the appropriate Minister and whose travelling expenses are determined solely on a mileage basis, vary according to the horse power of the car and range from 9d. to 10½d. per mile for the first 4,000 miles travelled in a year and from 4¼d. to 5½d. per mile for distances after the first 4,000 miles. I have no information about the rates paid by local authorities for the hire of hackneys and I have no control over them. As regards the last part of the Question I can take no action that would be in contravention of the principle of competitive tendering.