§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vehicles and at what value were purchased by(a) his Department, (b) water authorities, (c) local authorities and (d) other public sector agencies for which he is responsible, in 1988; and how many of these vehicles were British-made within the definition of British as set out by the Department of Trade and Industry in its arrangement on content with the European Community.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Crown Suppliers (a trading fund account of the Property Services Agency), operate a self-drive vehicle contract hire service, providing vehicles to a number of Government Departments and public sector organisations.
During 1988, the Crown Suppliers purchased 1,007 vehicles at a total cost of £7,538,640.
Five hundred and fifty seven vehicles were United Kingdom-produced, on the definition employed by the DTI for statistical purposes, under which a vehicle is classified as United Kingdom-produced if the United Kingdom content exceeds 50 per cent. of the ex-works value. The remainder (with the exception of one vehicle) were manufactured within the EEC.
Details of vehicle purchased by water authorities, local authorities and other public sector agencies are not the responsibility of my Department.