£6m ministerial car bill is shameful

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Jul 2008

Duncan Borrowman has joined with sleaze busting Lib Dem MP Norman Baker in condemning figures that show ministerial cars have cost the taxpayer more than £6m in the last year

Old Bexley and Sidcup Liberal Democrat candidate Duncan Borrowman has joined with sleaze busting Lib Dem MP Norman Baker in condemning figures that show ministerial cars have cost the taxpayer more than £6m in the last year.

Duncan Borrowman said: "While the government's disastrous handling of the economy hits taxpayers wallets, those same taxpayers are forking out for ministers to ride around in luxury. What makes it worse is the Government's attempt to hide the story in one of thirty statements on the day before MPs go off on their long summer break. Is there any surprise that the public have lost confidence in this government."

Norman Baker said: "While Gordon Brown is at a motor show arguing for greener, more economic vehicles, one third of the cars used by his Ministers are pollutant spewing gas guzzlers"

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Cost of Ministerial Cars for 2007-08

The Secretary of State for Transport (Ruth Kelly): I am publishing today details of the number of and cost to departments of the provision of allocated cars and drivers by the Government Car and Despatch Agency to Ministers during 2007-08.

The figures are:-

Department

No of Cars

Contracted Cost

Notes

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

5

£345,400

1&2

Cabinet Office

7

£473,500

3

Leader of the House of Commons, the Government's Equalities Office and the Leader of the House of Lords

4

£245,300

Office of the Chief Whips for the Commons and the Lords

1

£76,500

Department for Communities and Local Government

6

£401,600

Department for Culture, Media and Sports

3

£241,500

Department for Children, Schools and Families

5

£346,800

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

4

£267,800

Department for International Development

4

£226,900

Department for Transport

4

£272,700

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

5

£248,000

Department for Works and Pensions

6

£415,900

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

5

£355,700

Department of Health

6

£393,700

HM Treasury

5

£341,900

Home Office

6

£477,000

4

Law Officers' Dept

2

£138,400

Ministry of Justice

4

£307,900

Northern Ireland Office

2

£291,500

Scotland Office

1

£66,200

Wales Office

2

£85,400

Notes:-

1.

The Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs was a

post held jointly between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and

the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). The

Government Car Service (GCS) costs were met by BERR.

2.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Trade and Consumer

Affairs was a post held jointly between the Department for International

Development (DFID) and BERR. The GCS costs were met by DFID.

3.

Cabinet Office figures include cars for Ministers in the Cabinet Office,

the Prime Minister?s Office and the Minister for the Olympics.

4.

The Minister of State for Borders and Immigration was a post held

jointly between the Home office and HM Treasury. The GCS costs were met

by the Home Office.

Related Link:

The Vehicle Excise Duty bands for ministerial cars, which shows how many higher polluting vehicles are used, was revealed in a Parliamentary answer, which is available here.