THE Government Car and Despatch Agency is allowing a new marque on to its fleet for the first time in 20 years following a decision by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Two liquefied petroleum gas- fuelled Nissan Primeras are to expand the growing number of alternatively-fuelled vehicles on the 250-strong fleet.

The addition takes the total number of LPG cars up to 23 bi-fuelled vehicles, with the rest being made up of Ford Galaxys and Mondeos, Vauxhall Vectras and a Jaguar. Nissan joins a fleet which had been just Rover, Ford, Vauxhall and Jaguar for more than 20 years. The Japanese manufacturer says it is right that the marque should now join the fleet, as it has become one of the most 'British' cars in the country with assembly taking place at its Sunderland plant and more than 70% of components sourced in the UK.

The Government Car and Despatch Agency provides its fleet of vehicles to ministers and senior officials, and the two Primeras, with SLX specification, are to be used by Foreign Office minister Joyce Quin and local government and housing minister Hilary Armstrong. The Agency says that choosing the Nissans came at the end of a series of tests, with a final decision having to come direct from the Prime Minister.