Official car use 'reaches Moon'

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Miles covered in official cars by Welsh Assembly Government ministers almost doubled in a year, according to the Conservatives.

The Tories said figures showed miles travelled in official cars - 214,376 - was almost equal to the distance from the earth to the Moon.

They said it was "embarrassing" and undermining environmental commitments.

But the assembly government said the rise was partly due to extra responsibilities.

Figures obtained by Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne show Labour and Plaid Cymru clocked up 214,376 miles in 2008.

But over the previous year the figure was 127,866.

The Conservatives said this was equivalent to 4,100 miles a week and undermined the assembly government's commitment to reducing car use.

The figures showed ministers had covered more than 741,000 miles in official cars since 2005.

MINISTERS' MILES 2009 - 130,403 (to June 30)2008 - 214,376 2007 - 127,8662006 - 136,345<i>Source: Welsh Assembly Government</i>

Mr Bourne said: "These figures are deeply embarrassing for a government which repeatedly talks about reducing car use and encouraging more people onto public transport.

"It is surely not beyond the wit of assembly ministers to co-ordinate diaries and car-share from time to time when on official business.

"The role of government is surely to lead by example. In this instance Labour and Plaid Cymru are guilty of a classic case of do as we say, not as we do."

A spokesperson for the assembly government said ministers took public transport where possible and they were committed to reaching out to all parts of Wales.

"Ministers require transport to take them to engagements in different parts of Wales.

"(The rise in mileage) is partly due to the rise in the number of ministers, a greater geographical spread of ministers and an increase in duties resulting from the Government of Wales Act," he said.