§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total annual mileage covered by Ministers' official cars; and of this how much related to private use including home to work journeys.
§ Mr. ArmstrongMinister's official cars cover on average some 13,000 miles per annum. Detailed records are not kept of individual journeys within the central London area.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were the average and greatest private mileages undertaken by Ministers' cars over a recent period of weeks when the House was sitting, including as private mileage any journeys between home and work and vice versa;
(2) what is the maximum private mileage, including journeys to and from home, made in his official car by a Minister during a recent period of weeks while the House has been sitting.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe information requested is not available, as detailed records are not kept of the individual journeys made by Ministers' allocated cars within the central London area.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drivers of Ministers' official cars are earning more on a weekly basis than a Member of Parliament.
§ Mr. ArmstrongIn terms of basic weekly pay, none.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order to save public funds and reduce the 16W burden of overtime on the chauffeurs concerned, he will withdraw from Ministers the use of their official cars to take them home after sittings of the House and substitute hired taxis for this purpose.
§ Mr. ArmstrongNo.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is (a) the maximum and (b) the minimum distance regularly travelled from Westminster to his home by a Minister in an official car.
§ Mr. ArmstrongDistances regularly travelled from Westminster to his home by a Minister in his allocated car are: maximum, 22 miles; minimum, three-quarters of a mile.