Madam,
The recent auditor general’s report, revealing that government continues to spend E85 million on car rentals despite repeated pledges to reduce such extravagant expenditure, ought to provoke public outrage. It is unacceptable that at a time when every household is tightening its belt, ministers persist with a culture of waste that treats public funds as if they were inexhaustible. The figures are not merely clumsy bookkeeping - they are a stark and shameful reflection of priorities gone badly wrong.
We were told, repeatedly and convincingly, that the era of needless ministerial travel and lavish transport arrangements was over. Governments of all stripes have pledged to lead by example, to cut back on frivolous consumption and to show solidarity with citizens facing rising costs. Yet, the AG’s findings expose these promises as hollow rhetoric.
To spend tens of millions on car hire when there are cheaper, greener and more accountable alternatives is both fiscally irresponsible and morally indefensible.
Consider what E85 million represents: Classrooms refurbished, social care staff employed, waiting lists shortened, energy bills for the most vulnerable eased. Instead, it has been channelled into a system that rewards inefficiency.
The use of rental cars - often shortterm hires, premium models and arrangements that appear routine rather than exceptional - suggests a procurement culture that prioritises convenience and status over value for money. It also calls into question accountability. Who authorised these hires? Were robust tendering and costcontrol procedures followed? The report’s tone suggests that explanations offered by departments have been either unpersuasive or inadequate.The environmental implications cannot be ignored. An age that understands the urgency of the climate crisis cannot simultaneously tolerate thoughtless transport policies that increase emissions and undermine sustainability goals. Short-term car hires frequently involve larger, less efficient vehicles; they encourage pointtopoint driving rather than consolidated, efficient scheduling; and they reduce the incentive for ministers and senior officials to use public transport or to embrace remote meetings where appropriate. If the government is sincere about net zero and its own carbon reduction targets, this is precisely the sort of habit it should be eliminating, not entrenching.
Transparency is another area in which the AG’s findings are troubling. Public spending on specialist contracts should be traceable, justified and subject to scrutiny. Vague descriptions, fragmented records and a reluctance to disclose the full terms of hire agreements erode public trust. Officials must be required to publish detailed, itemised accounts of high-cost transport expenditure and to explain why alternatives were unsuitable. Where poor procurement practices are identified, there should be immediate corrective action and, where negligence is proven, accountability must follow.
It is also worth pointing out the symbolism. In an era of austerity for wages and public services, the image of ministers routinely stepping into hired cars - often luxury models - is disastrous for public morale. It conveys a message that there are two sets of rules: One for those who govern and another for those who are governed.
That perception is corrosive. Democracy functions best when leaders visibly abide by the same constraints as the electorate. Cutting such extravagant spending is not merely about saving money; it is about restoring confidence in public institutions.
Defence arguments such as hires are necessary, unavoidable or costeffective in specific circumstances must be examined with forensic rigour. There will always be legitimate reasons for occasional car rental: Security concerns, lastminute travel to remote locations, or special needs that public transport cannot meet. Also, the scale revealed by the auditor general’s report suggests these are not isolated exceptions but part of a systemic problem.
The onus is on ministers to prove, with clear evidence, that each hire was essential and procured in the most economical manner possible.
Practical measures to remedy the situation are straightforward and should be implemented without delay. First, an immediate cap should be introduced on nonessential car hires, with exemptions only on documented security or operational grounds. Second, a centralised booking system must be established to prevent duplication, ensure competitive pricing and monitor usage across departments. Third, every hire above a modest threshold should be accompanied by a published justification. Fourth, departments should be required to demonstrate active steps to reduce travel through video conferencing and better itinerary planning. Finally, where abuses are found, there must be consequences, clawbacks, disciplinary action or referral for investigation.
The public deserves better stewardship of its resources. The auditor general has performed a vital public service by shining a light on this waste; it is now for elected officials to act. Washing our hands of the problem with bland assurances or promises of ‘ongoing reviews’ will not do. What is needed is decisive, transparent action and a clear demonstration that public money will be spared the thoughtless squandering revealed in the report.
If ministers are truly committed to cutting waste and to living within the means that they demand of others, they must begin here, immediately ending the practice of routine, largescale car rentals, reforming procurement and publishing a plan to show how the wasted millions will be clawed back or redirected to pressing public needs. Anything less is a betrayal of public trust and an affront to the countless citizens who make do with far less.
The recent auditor general’s report, revealing that government continues to spend E85 million on car rentals despite repeated pledges to reduce such extravagant expenditure.
