MP slams ministerial cars 'waste'

MINISTERS have been accused of wastefulness by having their official cars sitting outside Parliament with the engines running.

Labour MP Thomas Docherty said he had seen Government cars sitting in New Palace Yard - one of the main thoroughfares in and out of the Palace of Westminster - for more than an hour with their engines turned on.

Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said he had not noticed the problem on his frequent visits in and out of the palace.

Speaking during the weekly business statement in the Commons, Mr Docherty said: "Members who have walked through New Palace Yard in recent weeks have noticed a large number of ministerial cars sitting with their engines running for up to an hour at a time.

"Not only is this an absurd waste of taxpayers' money having engines running, but it is an incredibly bad example to be setting about climate change.

"Will you arrange for the Department of Transport to issue a statement to all drivers and to confirm to the House this practice will cease because it is bad for the environment and bad for the taxpayer?"

Mr Lansley replied: "I must confess I had not particularly noticed that and of course I spend a lot of time in New Palace Yard coming and going, but I will talk to the Department of Transport, which is responsible for the Government car service and see what their view is of this."

By Tim Sculthorpe, Press Association