§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many of the vehicles in the official car service are connected with radio telephones, when these were introduced; at what costs; for what purposes; and what is is annual cost of upkeep.
§ Mr. John Silkin:Four vehicles in the Government car service are equipped 411W with radio telephones, installed at various dates between 1965 and 1967.
One set was bought outright at a cost of £320 but the other three sets are hired from Pye Telecommunications Ltd. at a total annual rental of £453.
The sets are provided to enable Ministers to keep in touch with their offices and to transact official business while travelling within a radius of about 25 miles from the centre of London.
The cost of upkeep is included in the annual rental of the hired sets but the owned set is maintained by the supplier on a no-charge basis. In addition, an annual fee of £30 for each of the four sets is paid to the Post Office for use of its network.