§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many drivers allocated to Ministers have been(a) stopped, (b) cautioned, (c) charged and (d) convicted of motoring offences since 1 May 1997, giving in each case (i) the nature of the offence, (ii) the date of the offence and (iii) the minister to whom the driver was allocated. [91273]
§ Mr. KilfoyleResponsibility 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. Norman Baker, dated 14 July 1999:
The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of this Agency's drivers who have been convicted of motoring offences since 1 May 1997.The Agency only holds records for motoring convictions. It does not hold any information about drivers who have been stopped, cautioned, or charged but not successfully prosecuted with motoring offences. Since 1 May 1997 only one driver has been convicted of 239W two speeding offences whilst on official duty. Both convictions are dated 2 April 1999. I am reluctant to name the minister to whom the driver was allocated at the time because it would be easy to identify the individual concerned and this would constitute an invasion of privacy.