To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was (a) the estimated average fuel consumption and (b) the total mileage of ministerial cars travelling on official business in each of the years since 1989–90 for each Government department. [36159]
I cannot answer for all cars used by Ministers. However, for those run by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, responsibility has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr. Andrew Stunell, dated April 1998:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, has asked me in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car Service (GCS) to reply to your Parliamentary Question about (a) the estimated average fuel consumption and (b) the total mileage of ministerial cars travelling on official business in each year since 1989–90.
In my letter to you of 3 February I explained that information on the ministerial use of the GCS before 1 April 1997, when GCDA was set up as a separate agency, was not readily available, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
For 1997/98, the estimated average fuel consumption of GCS cars allocated to Government departments for the use of Ministers is 25 miles per gallon. For the same period the estimated mileage of GCS cars allocated to departments, based on the most up-to-date information available, is as follows:
Department
| Estimated mileage
|
| Prime Minister and Cabinet Office | 69,400 |
| Department for Education amp; Employment | 165,700 |
| Ministry of Defence | 7,000 |
| Department of Social Security | 77,800 |
| Department of Health | 55,100 |
| Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions | 124,000 |
| Foreign amp; Commonwealth Office | 174,200 |
| Home Office | 60,900 |
| Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries amp; Food | 64,100 |
| Northern Ireland Office | 58,500 |
| Scottish Office | 52,700 |
| Department of Trade amp; Industry | 147,700 |
| Law Officers' Departments | 15,200 |
| HM Treasury | 65,900 |
| Welsh Office | 28,100 |
| Privy Council Office | 6,400 |
| Department for International Development | 37,000 |
| Lord Chancellor's Department | 39,200 |
| Department for Culture, Media amp; Sport | 54,400 |
As you may know, some departments may use other providers of cars and drivers for use by their Ministers.
As I also explained in my earlier letter, cars and drivers are allocated for the use of Ministers and their offices, and the above estimates may include some non-Ministerial use, such as the transportation of documents or use by officials.