§ Mr. PearsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles operated by his Department were manufactured (i) in the UK, (ii) in the EU and (iii) elsewhere. [122262]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 17 May 2000]In addition to combat vehicles, the Ministry of Defence operates a wide range of support vehicles procured or leased from over 130 different manufacturers. While details are not held centrally, it is assessed that the number of non-combat support vehicles (including long-term leased vehicles) is as follows:
- (a) cars (up to and including estate cars)—7,700
- (b) commercial vehicles (buses, fork-lift trucks, light vans and upwards)—15,300.
Country of manufacture is not recorded on the management information systems that are in place across the Department. For a fleet of 23,000 vehicles, the work involved to identify the country of manufacture could be provided only at disproportionate cost.