§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister what make and type of Government car will be allocated to the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary; and what will be the cost of such a vehicle to the Exchequer, including the annual cost of the chauffeur. [34013]
§ Mr. FreemanI have been asked to reply.
The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State does not use a car or driver from the Government car service. However he uses a car, together with a driver, on cost terms to the public service fully equivalent to the usual ministerial transport arrangements provided by the GCS—currently £43,628 per annum, excluding VAT.
The full terms of this arrangement are set out in a letter dated 16 March 1995, agreed when he was President of the Board of Trade. A copy of this letter has been deposited in the Library of the House.