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From The Times
February 20, 2006

Ministerial cars take 'green' route

By Sam Coates
THEY are fashionable, environment-friendly and even allow the driver to escape the congestion charge.

Ministers are to receive the first green cars to grace the Government’s fleet.

In future they will be given a choice of ministerial vehicle: the Toyota Prius, also a petrol-electric hybrid used by the Prince of Wales, or a Jaguar powered by “clean” biodiesel. This comes after the collapse of MG Rover, whose Rover 75, had long been a ministerial favourite. The Vauxhall Omega, the other principal ministerial car, has also been phased out.

The Government Car and Dispatch Agency decided to go for “green” cars in order to meet targets for cutting carbon dioxide levels. A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said that the Jaguar was included because it had great acceleration, which was necessary for security reasons.

She denied that all ministers would automatically go for the Jaguar, saying that Alistair Darling, the Transport Secretary, was going to have a Prius.

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The Prius, which costs £17,000, uses an electric motor in slow-moving traffic but switches to a petrol engine when greater acceleration is required. The Jaguar runs on biodiesal, which contains a 5 per cent blend of cleaner vegetable oil.

David Cameron, the Leader of the Opposition, is seeking a Prius and Chris Huhne, the front-runner for the Liberal Democrat leadership, has one.

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Matthew parris

open quote mark You'll laugh at what follows: I think there's a fair chance that Gordon Brown will try to bounce the opposition parties into some form of national government close quote mark

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Matthew Parris

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