HL Deb 23 April 2002 vol 634 cc28-30WA
Lord Tebbit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the cost of tolls imposed by the Greater London Authority will change the pattern of use of ministerial cars. [HL3768]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr Nick Matheson, to write to the noble Lord.

Letter from Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, dated 23 April 2002.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the cost of tolls imposed by the Greater London Authority.

I am currently assessing the likely impact of congestion charging upon the work of the Government Car Service. My initial conclusions are that the introduction of the charge will not lead to a significant change in the use of ministerial cars because all Ministers and their private offices are located within the congestion charge zone.

Cars and drivers are allocated for the use of Ministers and their private offices. In addition to ministerial duties, they are also used for several other purposes such as the movement of documents and for use by officials as directed by the ministerial private office.