HC Deb 17 January 1994 vol 235 c351W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will quantify the cost of the factors which led to an increase in the cost of cars for Ministers in his Department since 1990–91.

Mr. Goodlad

The Government car service—GCS—provides cars for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers. Increases in GCS charges since 1990–91 are due to the following factors:

  1. (i) GCS prices for its standard service were increased by 12 per cent. from 1 July 1990 and again by 10 per cent. from 1 January 1991;
  2. (ii) the basis for provision of a protected car was also changed. Prior to 1 April 1992, GCS purchased the base car while the user Department funded the one-off cost of protection. From 1 April 1992, GCS charges for a protected vehicle were increased by 54 per cent. to take account of the full cost of providing a protected car, amortised over its five-year lifespan;
  3. (iii) Value added tax on GCS bills increased from 15 to 17.5 per cent. on 1 April 1991.