Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual cost to the Department of the car service for Ministers in 1990–91; and how many vehicles were involved.
§ Mr. HowardIn 1990–91, the Home Secretary's three cars cost £75,700, including £2,700 for maintenance. The current costs given in my reply to the hon. Member's earlier question on 3 December at column783 included a provision of £25,000 for maintenance which is unlikey to be fully taken up.
Other Home Office Ministers used four cars supplied by the Government car service. In addition, cars were supplied for the transportation of ministerial despatch boxes. The total cost of these cars in 1990–91 was £191,000. The increased cost since then is attributed to price increases (18 per cent.), an increase in VAT (2.5 per cent.) and an increase in usage of the service (8.5 per cent.).