Government: Ministerial Cars

Lord Dubs Excerpts

Tuesday 5th October 2010 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Dubs]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what circumstances Ministers may use Government cars.

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, Ministers are permitted to use an official car for official business and for reasonable home-to-office journeys on the understanding that they would normally be carrying classified papers on which they would be working or, exceptionally, when the security authorities consider it essential. The number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers will be kept to a minimum.

[Lord Dubs]

Will the Minister confirm that, notwithstanding his Answer, there have been instances of Ministers having to go home on the Tube with their boxes following them in a ministerial car?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, from time to time that can happen. It is a very good point, but sometimes a Minister may be attending other meetings or events when he does not want to carry classified material, which is taken straight from his department to his home.