NHS fleets controlling 25,000 vehicles throughout England and Wales are slashing costs through a ground-breaking website which will handle orders for £21 million worth of vehicles a year.

Fleets will use the new site, launched by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, to compare quotes for cars and car-derived vans from 10 leasing suppliers and place orders directly without resorting to paper-based rate books or faxes.

Mike Taylor, the agency's senior buyer for transport, said: 'The website removes the need for rate books.

'Our 10 leasing suppliers will update the agency electronically. Users can then contact suppliers directly, whether to place an order or for further information.'

The password-protected site provides full contract information for each supplier and also features information on carbon dioxide-based company car taxation for drivers from next April.

The supplying leasing companies are Appleyard Vehicle Contracts, Arnold Clark Finance, Automotive Leasing, Cochranes Fleet Services, First National Vehicle Holdings, Ford Credit, HSBC Vehicle Finance, Interleasing, Lex Vehicle Leasing and Lombard Vehicle Management.