HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 cc643-4W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate for each month in the past five years the total miles covered by Ministers' official cars. [63656]

Mr. Kilfoyle

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 17 December 1998: The Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive of the Agency responsible for the Government Car Service (GCS) to reply to your Parliamentary Question dated 10 December 1998 asking for a list by month of the estimated total mileage of ministerial car travelling on official business in the last five years. The Government Car and Despatch Agency, of which GCS is a part, was formed on 1 April 1997 and information on mileage before then is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, I estimate the total mileage of ministerial cars provided by this Agency and travelling on official business since 1 April 1997 to be as follows:

1997 month Estimated mileage 1998 month Estimated mileage
April 27,810 January 71,910
May 143,820 February 129,440
June 139,030 March 143,820
July 143,820 April 104,270
August 71,910 May 143,280
September 69,510 June 139,030
October 115,060 July 143,820
November 139,030 August 71,910
December 107,860 September 69,510
October 115,060
November 139,030
The above estimates are based on total official use of GCS cars. In addition to their use by ministers, cars are used for other official purposes such as the movement of documents and for use by officials as directed by the ministerial private office.

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