Lib Dems expose Government double standards on climate change

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 26th Feb 2007

Climate change

Ministerial cars drove the equivalent of 114 times round the earth last year, the Lib Dems have revealed. Figures compiled by the party from parliamentary answers show that cars carrying government ministers and their staff drove a total of 2.8 million miles in 2005, an increase of more than 20% on the previous year.

It is estimated that the taxpayer will pay £18m for ministerial cars this year. It is time to bring these spiralling costs under control. The government must justify this massive increase in ministerial car use. Climate change is the biggest threat our planet faces; transport currently accounts for over a quarter of the UK's CO2 emissions. Government ministers need to start leading by example.