Question
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider whether vehicles are manufactured in the UK when awarding the contract for Ministry of Defence ministerial cars.
Answer
Further to the Answer of 27 October 2026 to Question HL4032, the Ministry of Defence does not have a specific contract for the provision of ministerial cars. Ministerial travel is generally supported by vehicles provided from Defence resources under the Department’s wider Phoenix 3 White Fleet contract, managed by Babcock. Phoenix 3 commenced on 1 March 2026 and provides White Fleet vehicles to meet requirements across Defence. Vehicles used to support Ministers and Service Chiefs form part of these wider arrangements and do not constitute a separate or exclusively ministerial fleet. The contract therefore does not specify a fixed number of vehicles for ministerial use. Contracts are awarded against Defence requirements and in accordance with applicable procurement obligations, including the need to secure value for money for the taxpayer, rather than a specific country of manufacture.
Verdict: GREEN (80/100)
The reply directly answered the one question asked: it stated that ministerial car contracts are awarded against Defence requirements, value-for-money and procurement obligations, rather than a specific country of manufacture. It also explained that there is no separate ministerial car contract, which corrects the premise of the question without replacing the answer. Because the response is clear and gives its reason, a reader should be able to understand the position without needing to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Government considers whether vehicles are manufactured in the UK when awarding the Ministry of Defence ministerial car contract. | Addressed | Direct | Statement 7 directly answers whether UK manufacture is considered: contracts are awarded against Defence requirements, value-for-money and procurement obligations, 'rather than a specific country of manufacture', which is a clear answer with a stated reason. Statements 1, 2, 5 and 6 correct the premise by explaining there is no separate ministerial car contract, which bears on the item without replacing the answer. |