Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers in 1990–91; and how many vehicles were involved.
§ Sir John WheelerThe cost of providing cars for Ministers during the 1990–91 financial year was around £680,000.
For most of the year, only four cars were provided by the Government car service, but this was increased to five when the number of Ministers of State increased.
Not all Ministers had the exclusive use of a car; these costs therefore include private hire cars to supplement the five cars provided by the Government car service. They 560W also include the cost of cars provided on duty by the Royal Ulster Constabulary for Ministers when they were in Northern Ireland.