Separate copies to:-
Mr Davies, FED
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Williams, SAD
Mr Colvin, SEAD
MAD 354
From: RA Burns
Date: 16 April 1991
par Avis Travel Bridget
M
Ma çox Section Heads JL Doherty
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18/4
AUS TRAVEL BUDGET 1991/92
1. I attach a copy of a minute from Mr Short, PSD, setting out my personal budget allocation for this Financial Year (£128,800). You will see from this that PSD reckon that they are giving us enough for all travel that we have identified as "necessary". In fact, it is some £2,000 short of our bid, and I fear there are a number of payments hanging over from the last Financial Year which will have to be met from this budget as well. Please now proceed with your travel plans, with an eye to what savings you can engineer and in the knowledge that there are bound to be unexpected bids coming up as we go along.
2. I confess that I do not fully understand the arguments put forward by Mr Short on Route Deals and Economy/Apex deals from the last Financial Year which have to be set against this year's budget. I agreed to a number of trips being booked in February and March on the basis that the air costs would be slipped through last year's budget, with subsistence being paid from the 1991/92 allocation where necessary. Sandra Johnson warns me, however, that, because of slow accounting procedures, some of these fares may have to be met this Financial Year. Any such costs will of course reduce the amount of money available for necessary journeys this year.
3. I am sorry that the desirable bids have not been catered for. I do share your view about the importance of familiarisation trips. I will look benignly on any inventive proposition during the year which will help get people out to Posts, and, if more money becomes available, I will gladly consider proposals for desirable travel.
A21ABM
TA?
R A Burns