THE National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has signed a solus agreement with Rover Corporate Finance to supply and manage its 420-strong car fleet for three years in a deal worth £4.6 million at showroom prices. The bulk of the company's fleet is already made up of Rover 214iE and 414iE cars, used as operational vehicles by child protection teams, project leaders and other NSPCC staff throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The full maintenance, three-year contracts are part of the organisation's policy of outsourcing specialist services as far as possible, allowing it to concentrate on its core role of protecting children.