Ja. Eish! [Laughter.] The allocation of the residences for Ministers and Deputy Ministers is something which is regulated by the Ministerial Handbook. In this regard, upon being sworn in as a Minister or Deputy Minister, the affected member of the executive submits a letter of application to the Minister of Public Works for the allocation of an official residence, either in Pretoria or in Cape Town. The Minister of Public Works will then allocate that residence accordingly.
In the event of there being no available residence, a member of the executive may lease alternative accommodation and claim from the department on a recoverable basis. Factors which have to be considered would include the proximity of the alternative accommodation to the legislature, to the Union Buildings or even to the headquarters, the issue of its security and risk sensitivity, and also its accessibility to the airport. That is what applies now. Therefore, the policy is there in the Ministerial Handbook. Thank you.
Particulars regarding (i) costs involved in departmental officials commuting on government business; and (ii) cost-effectiveness of locating Parliament and Executive in same province
274. Mr V G Smith (ANC) asked the Minister of Finance:
(1) What is the cost to the taxpayer to have officials of his department commute on a weekly basis for government business between Pretoria and Parliament in Cape Town during the parliamentary session;
(2) whether he has commissioned a study on whether it will be more economically beneficial to locate the national Parliament and the Executive arms of government in the same province; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NO4051E