§ Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
For how many hours per day government cars are required to keep their engines running in order to ensure that their catalytic converters always operate properly; and [HL2141]
Further to the Written Answer by the Chairman of Committees on 1 June (WA 12), why cars under the control of the Government Car and Despatch Agency are not fitted with security devices which can be powered from the car battery alone for extensive lengths of time; and [HL2142]
125WAWhether the Government Car and Despatch Agency require that the engines of their cars are kept running in their parking places in government offices in order to provide power for their security devices; and, if not, why the parking areas at the House of Lords are so much less secure that battery-draining security systems have to remain operational. [HL2143]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyResponsibility for these matters has been delegated under the terms of its Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Berkeley from the Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, Mr. N. Matheson.
Lord McIntosh of Haringey has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car Service (GCS) to reply to your parliamentary Questions dated 4 June 1998 about (a) the proper use of catalytic converters in GCS cars; (b) the power needs of security devices fitted to some GCS cars; and (c) the appropriate use of such devices within the precincts of the House of Lords.
All GCS cars are fitted with catalytic converters. Broadly speaking, a catalytic converter works by engine exhaust emissions reacting with compounds within the catalytic converter, cleaning the emissions from the engine. This reaction only works when the compounds in the converter have reached a high temperature. Until that point, the emissions from a cold engine are no cleaner than from a normal car engine. Therefore it is important that the car engine should be kept at an optimum operating temperature if the car is going to be used frequently. However if the car is likely to be stationary for some time, then it makes sense to turn off the engine. Our drivers are under clear instruction to keep their engines running to a minimum consistent with security requirements, and to be mindful of the environmental impact of our operations at all times. Our drivers use their professional judgment on when to keep their vehicle engines running.
The agency's security vehicles are fitted with a number of security devices. I cannot discuss in any detail what these devices are, or how they operate, but I can assure you that the most modern and efficient equipment is used. These devices are always kept active when a vehicle is on official duty and is occupied. One particular system requires that the engine is running for it to function at all.
It is for these reasons that the engines of security vehicles are kept running when occupied and not because there is any inherent lack of security in the areas surrounding the House of Lords.