§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vehicles(a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have access to, broken down by vehicle type; what the annual operating costs were in each of the last three financial years; how much it costs to convert a car so that it is suitable for a Government Minister; and if she will make a statement. [82023]
§ Alun MichaelThe Secretary of State has access to one car, a Vauxhall Omega, and the Ministers in Defra have access to one car each—two Ford Mondeos and two Vauxhall Vectras.
Defra has not yet had a full financial year. However from June 2001 (when the Department was created) to the end of March 2002, spend on the five ministerial cars was in the region of £309,000. So far this financial year the Department has spent £207,000 for the five ministerial cars.
The Department has not paid to have any of the cars converted for use by a Government Minister.