§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much his Department expects to spend in each year from 1998–99 to 2000–01 on vehicle replacements. [54986]
§ Mr. MudieThe Department, together with the Employment Service (ES), is constantly looking at the efficiency and effectiveness of the vehicle fleet and replace vehicles only where there is a clear business need to do so. Following reviews of officially provided vehicles in both DfEE and ES earlier this year, more stringent requirements have been introduced for the use of vehicles. These are likely to result in a significant reduction in the need to purchase replacement vehicles.
In DfEE we now expect to spend less than £250,000 during 1998–99 while ES will spend about Elm during the same period. The budget for future years has yet to be agreed and will be based on operational needs of both DfEE and ES. Early indications are that the allocations will continue to decline.