Government ministers...

Government ministers nearly trebled their parking fine bill last year тЂ“ leaving hard-pressed taxpayers to pick up the tab.

The latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed officials using the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (GCDA) fleet of vehicles racked up ТЈ15,930 in Penalty Charge Notices during the 2007-08 financial year. ThatтЂ™s nearly three times more than the previous 12 months, when the bill was ТЈ5,900.

When quizzed about the hike, a DfT spokeswoman said: тЂњThere is no single reason for the rise in parking fines.тЂќ However, she admitted that ministers sometimes intentionally ignored the parking restrictions that other motorists are expected to adhere to.

тЂњThe Government Car and Despatch Agency pays parking tickets when they arise operationally in circumstances where the overriding security requirements dictate parking locations,тЂќ she explained.

Parking fines werenтЂ™t the only ministerial motoring expenses revealed recently in HansardтЂ™s Written Answers. In the last financial year, the fuel bill for the GCDAтЂ™s 213-strong fleet of cars was more than ТЈ676,000.