THE Government Car Service is resisting pressure from ministers to broaden the choice of vehicles available to them as 'company cars'. Disgruntled junior ministers are allegedly calling for a wider selection of vehicles than the current list of four upper medium models.

While senior ministers needing special security arrangements get an armoured Jaguar and cabinet ministers are entitled to a Rover 800, their junior colleagues must settle for more mundane transportation. The list comprises the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, Rover 400 and Nissan Primera - equivalent to a sales representative or junior manager in the private sector.

Some junior ministers are reported to be unhappy with the choice and status of the cars on offer but were snubbed when they expressed their dissatisfaction to the Cabinet Office. The Government Car Service said: 'The position is that we have no current plans to change the class of cars that ministers use.'