§ Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bayasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the average cost of providing a car and driver to enable government Ministers to carry out official duties; and, if separate figures are available, what was the average cost for (a) a Cabinet Minister and (b) a Minister outside the Cabinet, for the latest year for which figures are available. [HL1319]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers 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 noble Lord. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Letter from the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, Nick Matheson, to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, dated 3 March 2004.
Lord Bassam of Brighton has asked me in my capacity as the chief executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the average annual cost of providing ministerial transport for Cabinet and non-Cabinet ministers.
Overall, the average annual cost of ministerial transport, provided by GCDA, for all ministers is £59,901. For Cabinet ministers the average is £65,268 and for ministers outside the Cabinet the figure is £54,570. These figures are based upon the current contracted costs for 2003–04.