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<p>Under this Government, the DCLG Group is making a 41 per cent real terms saving
against its running costs by 2014-15. This equates at least £532 million of taxpayers’
money in administrative savings.</p><p> </p><p>As part of these savings, my Department
has made substantial reductions to the cost of Ministerial cars. Instead of the six
cars previously used, the Department now maintains only two cars between six Ministers.</p><p>
</p><p>There is a business case for some provision. The Government Car Service provides
secure transport for Ministers carrying sensitive and confidential government documents.
All travel arrangements are carried out in accordance with the Ministerial Code.</p><p>
</p><p>Notwithstanding, our reforms have cut the cost by two-thirds, as shown in the
table below.<br><br></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><em>Financial Year</em></p></td><td><p><em>Government
Car Service</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007-08</p></td><td><p>£401,600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>£418,300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>£488,276</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>£321,592</p></td></tr><tr><td>
</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>£202,819</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>£199,191</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>£191,813</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p><sup>Note: Based on DfT methodology for Government Car Service spending, as
published and presented to Parliament. Figures exclude VAT which is recoverable.</sup></p><p>
</p><p>Additional spending on other hired car services in 2009-10 totalled £28,266,
including chauffeurs and limousines (comprehensive figures are not held prior to this).
By contrast, spending by 2013-14 has been just cut to just £124.</p><p> </p><p>To
provide some comparative figures, the table below, illustrates the spending on Ministerial
cars over the last three years of the Labour Government, by Department (excluding
other hired car services):<br><br></p><p> </p><table><thead><tr><td><p><em>Government
Car & Despatch Agency spending</em></p></td><td><p><em>Total (2007-10)</em></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p>Department
for Business, Innovation and Skills (and DBERR & DIUS)</p></td><td><p>£1,863,036</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Home
Office</p></td><td><p>£1,474,894</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Work and Pensions</p></td><td><p>£1,351,426</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department
for Communities and Local Government</p></td><td><p>£1,308,176</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department
of Health</p></td><td><p>£1,278,190</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cabinet Office</p></td><td><p>£1,262,490</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department
for Children, Schools and Families</p></td><td><p>£1,196,893</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HM
Treasury</p></td><td><p>£1,155,789</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Foreign & Commonwealth
Office</p></td><td><p>£1,091,934</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ministry of Justice</p></td><td><p>£938,930</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department
for Transport</p></td><td><p>£845,479</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs</p></td><td><p>£806,189</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department
for Culture, Media and Sport</p></td><td><p>£790,297</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department
for International Development</p></td><td><p>£755,556</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Northern
Ireland Office</p></td><td><p>£655,551</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other (e.g. Whips /
Leaders’ Offices where itemised)</p></td><td><p>£544,900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Law
Officers’ Department</p></td><td><p>£474,731</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for
Energy and Climate Change (two years)</p></td><td><p>£402,130</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales
Office</p></td><td><p>£372,904</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland Office</p></td><td><p>£277,913</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ministry
of Defence (two years)</p></td><td><p>£191,443</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><sub>Data
sources: 22 July 2008, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 117WS; 16 July 2009, <em>Official
Report</em>, Column 80WS; 28 October 2010, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 23WS.</sub></p><p>
</p><p>My Department’s tangible savings are in stark contrast to the Leader of the
Opposition’s taxpayer-funded Short Money travel allowance, which has risen year on
year since May 2010 – a fact which betrays a disregard for the need for all parts
of the public sector to their bit to help pay off Labour’s deficit.</p><p> </p><p>
</p>
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