asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on reorganisation of the Government motor car pool since May, showing how much has been spent on the hire of private cars and how this compares with previous expenditure on private hire.

The Midland region pool has been reduced since May from 13 cars to two cars. Since then, £3,475 has been spent by the Midland region on hiring cars, compared with £54 in the corresponding period in 1978–79. The extra cost of hiring is far out-weighed by the net saving from the reduction in the pool, which is estimated at some £60,000 a year.