NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 709
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [NO 7-2009]
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 AUGUST 2009
709. Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land
Reform:
Whether, in light of the current recession and the consequent shortfall in
state revenue, his department has introduced any austerity measures to
reduce its expenditure with regard to (a) official vehicles, (b) travel,
(c) travel by departmental officials, (d) accommodation and household help
or (e) any other aspects of government business; if not, what is the
position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW803E
THE MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
Yes.
(a)-(d) The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has
corporate agreements with airline and car hire companies and has
negotiated special rates/tariffs in order to reduce its travel related
expenditure. Likewise, it has negotiated similar corporate agreements
with hotels for lower rates/tariffs to reduce accommodation costs.
Furthermore please find the Departmentâs âCircular on Cost Cutting
Measuresâ attached as Annexure A.
(e) Yes. The Department has reduced its request for additional funds
over the 2010 Medium Term Expenditure Framework by reprioritising
within its current baseline.