Information on cars operated by the Government Car and Despatch Agency, an agency of the Department for Transport, is available on page 14 of its annual report and accounts 2005-06, copies of which are available in the Library for the reference of Members.
Aside from the GCDA fleet, the Department and its other agencies have 843 cars. Of these, 134 were manufactured in the UK and 709 were manufactured abroad.
(2) in what circumstances special advisers may use an official car or taxi;
(3) on how many occasions since 1997 his Department has taken action against (a) special advisers, (b) Ministers and (c) other civil servants for permitting special advisers to use official cars or taxis in circumstances that are not within his Department's guidelines; and if he will make a statement.
Guidance on the use and provision of Government cars is set out in the Ministerial Code and ‘Travel by Ministers’. Guidance on the use and provision of official cars and taxis by civil servants, including special advisers, is set out in the civil service management code and departmental staff handbooks. It is for individual Ministers and their Departments to account for the use of official cars and taxis.