Government Car Service..
With all the attention in reducing greenhouse emissions, it seems almost incredulous that the Government has paid private limousine hire firms £2.7 million over the past two years so that Ministers can be ferried around in luxury. Apparently, twenty-one companies with fleets of expensive cars have contracts with the Government Car Service - the Whitehall agency that is supposed to have sole responsibility for transporting Ministers and officials on Government business.
The firms, which are based all over Britain, are required to provide an "executive-level chauffeur service using executive-class saloons" - with the Mercedes E-class or similar model specified as suitable vehicles in the contract bidding form. A list obtained from the Department for Transport revealed that senior Labour figures, including Commons Speaker Michael Martin, are being secretly whisked around in cars considerably more comfortable than the environmentally friendly models in the Government car pool.
Last year the Government spent £900,000 on 110 hybrid-engined cars for the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to cut down on harmful carbon dioxide emissions. However, the fact that so many chauffeuring duties are contracted out to private hire companies with no obligation to meet environmental targets casts doubt over Ministers' public espousal of 'green' issues.
The petrol-electric hybrid Toyota Prius, which is exempt from the London Congestion Charge because of its relatively low carbon emissions, costs between £17,777 and £20,677. On the other hand the Mercedes E-class, which has a more spacious interior, sells for between £27,802 and £67,597.
Some of these hire firms have a mixture of vehicles, saloons and seven-seaters. Typically these include Vauxhalls and Peugeot standard limousines, as well as Mercedes E-class and Chrysler limousines. Engines can vary in size and type from two litre petrol to a 4.5-litre diesel. Indeed, some of the firms work exclusively for the Government. This means that their drivers need to undergo rigorous security checks.
If ministers want the extra space of a hire limo, or think that their status warrants the luxury of a limousine, they should deal with a company that offers vehicles that are environmentally friendly.
Form information about the options of hiring environmentally friendly limousines, contact Hire Limos.
