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Tories urged to reduce fleet size
Date: 29 April 2009 | Author: Tom Webster
The Conservatives are urging their leader David Cameron to reduce the size of the ministerial fleet should the party win the next election according to a report in the Telegraph.
Tory frontbencher Ed Vaizey has suggested his party should make less use of the cars, which reportedly cost an average of £70,000 each, than Labour does.
"Who needs these cars? The PM obviously, for security. I would make a case for the most senior ministers - Chancellor, defence, foreign and home," said Mr Vaizey. "After that, I can't think why you would need one - an Oyster card, second-class rail ticket and the odd cab should suffice."
The Government Car and Despatch Agency runs the cars, and the fleet amounts to 171 cars and 50 vans, with 87 of the cars being used by ministers.
It is claimed a total of £676,000 was spent on fuel for the cars last year, while Parliament figures have shown that £15,930 was spent on parking tickets.
