Insurance arrangements for Government Car Service vehicles: FOI release

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).

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