HL Deb 25 May 1949 vol 162 cc1076-7

2.37 p.m.

LORD BROUGHSHANE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper:

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will give particulars of the number of official cars in the Kensington pool for use in London, as well as officials cars in use elsewhere; whether they will state the total cost of their maintenance, including salaries of officials, etc., whether such cars are used by Ministers for private journeys, and if so, on payment of what rate per mile; and whether they will state how Government expenditure on motor cars, as indicated above, compares with similar Government expenditure in this regard prior to 1945.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, the number of cars (including dual-purpose utilities) in the official car service pool at Kensington for use in London is 209. The total number of official cars of all Government Departments, excluding the cars of the official car service in London, the Defence services, and cars overseas, is 7,215. This includes 459 cars of the regional official car service pools. The total cost of the official car service for the year 1948–49 was £504,000. Thirty-four cars are allocated to Ministers for their exclusive use, and they may use them on private journeys on payment of one shilling per mile. The car service was established in 1946 with a view to pooling resources. Since then the numbers of cars have been kept steady. There are no comparable figures prior to that date.

LORD BROUGHSHANE

My Lords, is my understanding right, that there has been an increase of nearly £100,000 in the cost of this car service during the past year? In view of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's appeal for economy, and the desirability of saving petrol, what steps are the Government taking to reduce this heavy expenditure both on cars and petrol?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, the first statement that the noble Lord made, that the cost has increased by £100,000, is completely outside my knowledge. My understanding is that the present system shows a diminution over the system which we inherited.

EARL HOWE

My Lords may I ask the noble Lord, in a case of a Minister paying 1s. a mile, whether there is any restriction in the form of maximum mileage; is he limited to the ninety miles a month, or not?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

It is not within my knowledge that there is any restriction at all.

LORD BROUGHSHANE

Is not the ordinary price for cars 1s. 3d. per mile? Why do Ministers get their cars at 1s. a mile?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

We are satisfied that the charge of 1s. a mile is fair, both to the Exchequer and to the Ministers concerned.