To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department incurred on (a) leasing and (b) maintaining white fleet vehicles in the latest period for which figures are available; for what purposes his Department leases such vehicles; how many (i) civilians and (ii) service personnel have used his Department's white fleet vehicles in the latest period for which figures are available; and for what purposes in each case. (277762)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has two lease agreements in place for the provision of the majority of non-operational cars, i.e. white fleet vehicles. During FY 2008-09 the provision of leased vehicles under the UK and British Forces Germany white fleet contracts cost the Department approximately £82 million. It is not possible to separate the cost of maintaining the leased vehicles because the daily rate charge for vehicle provision includes the cost to the contractor of procuring the vehicles, routine servicing and maintenance, the provision of a recovery service, eventual disposal of the vehicle, and administrative overheads incurred by the service provider.

White fleet vehicles are leased for use in non-deployable administrative and support roles and transporting personnel and equipment. All MOD personnel, both military and civilian, are eligible to use white fleet vehicles on authorised duty journeys. The control and management of these vehicles is undertaken at unit level. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.