KK,
The press moaned last year about Blair twice using the 146's to go on holiday - if you count that as private business. This year he has announced that he is flying Easyjet instead.
The 146s are actually a part of the Queen's flight which are kept at RAF Northolt for flying Royals as well as some senior Government members. I don't think that the aircraft are allocated to any particular person but are kept as a pool (There are 3 146s, 5 HS125s and 3 helos). I also think that the whole flight is supposed to have a dual role as air ambulances and military VIP transport during times of war.
Of course what is not reported in the press is the extra cost to the taxpayer of the additional security required for taking the PM on a scheduled flight and how that compares to just taking the 146 anyway (which will possibly be flying less than its optimum hours from a maintenance viewpoint).
This on top of the military and nuclear command/control issues and the horrifying thought of 'Two Jags' Prescott the deputy PM having his protestor-thumping hands on the Trident missile launch button!
foggy.
[ 20 July 2001: Message edited by: foghorn ]