Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will quantify the cost of the factors which led to an increase in the cost of cars for Ministers in her Department since 1990–91.
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§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe level of charges for ministerial cars is determined centrally by the Government car service. In the two financial years since 1990–91, there have been two major price rises which have increased our costs. An additional factor is that from April 1991, car charges were subject to the higher rate of VAT. In the same period, there has been no increase in the number of allocated vehicles.