Scottish Government

THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE'S USE OF VEHICLE INSURANCE

Information Requested

• How many vehicles your organisation takes out insurance for, under the Road Traffic Act 1988

• The date or dates of purchase or renewal of the insurance policies for those vehicles

• The name and contact details of the person within your organisation who is responsible for the procurement of that insurance

• The date or dates around which that person would be content to receive tenders for the purchase or renewal of that insurance

Information Provided

As is the position in most Government Departments the Scottish Executive is not required under Crown indemnity to take out comprehensive insurance on its fleet of vehicles or any vehicles hired. The exemption of Crown vehicles from the compulsory insurance requirements of the Road Traffic Act depends on the purpose for which the vehicle is used, not on the ownership of the vehicle, and applies only when the vehicle is being used for the public service of the Crown and driven by those who are employed by the Scottish Executive.

Given this exemption the Scottish Executive has opted to self-insure all its vehicles (with no exceptions) and as a consequence has no vehicle insurance contracts to renew.