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FOI/202400443401 · FOI · clarification

Insurance arrangements for Government Car Service vehicles: FOI release

Published
2025-01-22
Received
2024-11-15
Responded
2025-01-06
Directorate
Corporate Operations Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills
Exemptions
None detected

Information requested

I am writing to seek clarification on the insurance arrangements for ministerial cars, particularly in light of recent constituent concerns. Specifically, I would like to understand the following:

What is the scope of the insurance provided for ministerial vehicles in Scotland? Who is covered under this insurance? Does this extend to private passengers accompanying the Minister? Are there any restrictions on the type of journeys covered, particularly for non-ministerial or personal engagements? Under what category or circumstances are non-official passengers permitted to travel in a ministerial car?

Response

Government Car Service vehicles are operated in line with the wider Scottish Government fleet guidance and protocols.

All vehicles owned, hired or on loan to the Scottish Government are operated under Crown Indemnity. Crown-owned vehicles are not required to carry a Certificate of Insurance and therefore we act as our own insurer.

Civil servants and Ministers are covered under this arrangement and non-civil servants may also travel in official vehicles when in connection with official business.

Crown Indemnity does not apply to non-official journeys and the carrying of non-official passengers should be avoided. However there may be exceptional circumstances where individual business areas agree this on a one-off basis (subject to full prior knowledge of circumstance, risk and acceptance of potential local financial implications by the appropriate divisional head).

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

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