Whitehall slashes fleet spend

The Government has cut spending on ministerial cars by 44%, saving millions of pounds by reducing access to its fleet.

Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) reveal that in 2009-10 - Labour's final year in office - £6.7m was spent on cars, but in 2010-11, when the coalition Government came to power, the figure was reduced to £3.8m.

The number of cabinet ministers who have access to an allocated car and driver from the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) has been cut from 78 to 13, while non-cabinet ministers have access to a car pool.

The Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans to cut the cost of ministerial cars shortly after coming to office in May 2010.

The Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening said: “To reduce the cost of the Government Car Service to taxpayers, the ministerial car pool was introduced in September 2010 and, from that date, replaced the allocated service for non-cabinet ministers in line with the Ministerial Code published in May 2010.”

The latest figures for the Government Car and Despatch Agency - for the 2010-11 financial year - include £700,000 which fell under the previous Labour administration.

The figures also show that no Government department now has more than one full-time allocated car.

No ministers at the Cabinet Office - responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister - have dedicated vehicles, whereas before the general election, four did.

Ministers without their own cars can use pool vehicles for official business and travelling from home to the office within reasonable distance of London.

However, all members of the Government are encouraged to use public transport where possible.

Departmental Spend with the GCDA 

Number of GCDA Allocated Cars