Justine Greening, Shadow Communities and Local Government Minister, says the Government is wasting money on ministerial cars and chauffeurs.
Government Ministers have spent almost £24 million in the last four years on ministerial cars and chauffeurs, with the cost and numbers of cars continuing to rise.
Greening said £24million was "unacceptable", "clearly excessive", and "a waste of taxpayers’ money".
Last year, Ministers were driven around in 93 ministerial cars, at a cost to the taxpayer of £6.3 million – an average cost of £67,500 per car. The Home Office and the Cabinet Office have racked up the highest bills, both spending over £1.8 million each on a combined fleet of around 13 cars since 2005.
Greening added that the cost was even less justified considering that everyone is making their own sacrifices in these difficult economic times. "In a time of recession they should tighten their belts rather than splurging on luxuries", she said.
The Conservatives have pledged to cut the budget for official cars by a third, with a focus on ministers using them more efficiently.