Top civil servant clocks up over 600 trips in limo

SCOTLAND'S top civil servant was under fire today after it was revealed he had made more than 600 trips by official limousine in less than 18 months.

Sir John Elvidge, the Scottish Government's Permanent Secretary, used chauffeur-driven cars to get to restaurants, cinema and theatre engagements.

He frequently opted to be driven by limo between the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government HQ at St Andrew's House, rather than take a five-minute walk.

Details of Sir John's journeys were revealed in an answer to a parliamentary question lodged by Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes. It showed Sir John has made a total of 628 trips by chauffeur-driven vehicles from the Government Car Service since May last year.

He is one of eight senior civil servants who are entitled to use the limos, which are also used to ferry ministers around.

Last month, First Minister Alex Salmond was criticised for twice using his government car to get to the SNP's campaign headquarters in the Glasgow East by-election.

In June the Evening News revealed Mr Salmond took both a chauffeur-driven car and a plane to Manchester when he went to watch Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final. He flew down to see the game, but had already sent a limo ahead to pick up the tickets and drive him back.

Mr Foulkes said: "It's extremely disturbing to have discovered that Scotland's top civil servant, the First Minister's right-hand man, has an even more worrying addiction to his government car than the Alex Salmond does.

"This is the man charged with meeting the SNP's tight efficiency targets yet he'll use his car, at the taxpayers expense, to grace the lounges of Edinburgh's theatre's, cinemas and Michelin star restaurants.

"The great irony of the situation is that I've recently written to the Sir John Elvidge asking him to clarify the rules on Ministerial car use."

The list of trips also shows Richard Wakeford, director-general environment, made 32 journeys by limo.

The Chief Inspector of Constabulary Paddy Tomkins, former chief constable of Lothian & Borders, used official cars on 34 occasions.

Dr Kevin Woods, director-general health and chief executive of NHS Scotland, made 42 trips.

Robert Gordon, director-general justice and communities, made 20. Philip Rycroft, director-general of education, made 16.

Stella Manzie, director general finance and corporate services, made just one, while Dr Andrew Goudie, director-general economy and chief economic adviser, made no trips at all by limo.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Permanent Secretary has never used the Government Car Service for personal purposes.

"All of these trips have been undertaken in the course of government business, and a significant number of the short journeys have been to attend Cabinet meetings.

"Sir John uses the car proportionately and makes careful judgements about every journey he undertakes. He frequently walks to meetings and takes public transport where possible."