The Government has paid private limousine companies £2.7 million during the past two years so that Ministers can be ferried around in luxury.
Twenty-one firms with line of expensive cars have agreements with the Government Car Service, the Whitehall agency that is alleged to have especial responsibility for transporting Ministers and officials on Government business.
The firms, which are based all across Britain, are binding 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.
The obtained list from the Department for Transport after our report a week ago which showed that senior Labour figures, including Commons Speaker Michael Martin, are secretly whisked around in cars notably more comfortable than the environmentally friendly limousine models in the Government car pool.
Some of the firms work only for the Government and their drivers incur rigorous security checks.
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