Q&A WRITTEN REPLIES

OFFICERS' CARS: Providing drivers for the armed forces' top brass and Ministry of Defence officials cost £2.3m in 1993-94, the Armed Forces Minister, Nicholas Soames, disclosed. He said in reply to Labour's Stephen Byers that there were 114 posts at home and abroad, ranging from Chief of the Defence Staff to the MoD's Chief Scientific Adviser, who were entitled to a dedicated staff car and driver. Seven vehicles were bought at a cost of £100,000 in 1993-94, and 131 at a cost of £1.7m in 1992-93.

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