§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what her estimate is of the cost(a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002. [101853]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonPart(a) of this question will be addressed in a letter from Mr. Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member for Buckingham. As for part (b), expenditure of £40,407 was incurred against the departmental taxi service contract between 1 April 2002 and 28 February 2003. This figure excludes any amounts spent on taxi hire outside of the departmental contract and reclaimed by officials as travel and subsistence expenditure. That information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.