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Roadsense

Issue 143 - 4 November 2011

Motor mileage allowance – Double standards in DfT
 

After much prevaricating, this week’s DSA News remarks that DSA will not be raising the motor mileage allowance from 40p to 45p in line with the Chancellor’s statement in his April 2011 budget.

The reasons given include; that DSA is committed to achieving its financial targets; that no provision was made in the business plan for a rise in mileage allowances; and that test fees have not risen since 2009. Ironically the reason given by the Chancellor for increasing the mileage allowance is that this has not increased since 2002!

The position of the Agency seems to be that members have to forego this rise in order to help DSA meet its targets. This is unacceptable.

The Chancellor (in his budget speech) did not say that the rise was dependant upon Agencies being able to meet the cost of the increase. If the Executive Board believe that he did, then the Board members should re-read his speech. They will read that he said that the allowance would be raised to 45p. There were no strings attached.

We have raised this issue several times with management, in response to queries from members, and we wholly disagree with the Board’s decision not to raise the allowance to 45p per mile. In fact, if we receive enough support from members over this issue, we will write to the Chancellor, outlining the situation and asking him to clarify his position.

We are aware that other Agencies have already raised the allowance.

Given DSA’s position, we firmly believe that, given the high cost of fuel, insurance, servicing etc, members should now reconsider using their private vehicle when carrying out detached duty in particular. There is no obligation to use your own vehicle, and DSA cannot expect you to do so when the reimbursement is less than colleagues elsewhere in DfT receive.

Does 40p per mile really cover all of the costs of using your vehicle? The answer has to be no, it does not. So don’t use it!

Paul Williams  -  PCS DSA Section President
Steve Grigor  -  PCS DSA Section Vice-President