With reference to the fuel efficiency of the departmental fleet:

(1) How many cars does the department have in its fleet.

(2) (a) How many new cars will be purchased or leased in the 2000-01 financial year; and (b) can details be provided of the make, size and horsepower.

(3) How many new cars were purchased or leased in the 1999-2000 financial year; and (b) can details be provided of the make, size and horsepower.

(4) How many cars in the fleet are fuelled by liquid petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and petrol.

(5) Does the agency use its own LPG or CNG refuelling stations; if so, how many are there of these.

(6) Does the agency have a policy or strategy to reduce the fuel consumption of its car fleet; if so, can details be provided.

(7) What is the fuel efficiency rating of all cars in the fleet.

(8) How does the actual fuel consumption and mileage compare with that rating.

(9) Nationally, what operating savings would have been achieved for the 1999-2000 financial year if all cars in the fleet were run on: (a) LPG; and (b) CNG.

(1) As at 16 March 2001, the Department of Education Training and Youth Affairs leased 142 vehicles.

(2) (a) At present, there are thirty nine [39] vehicles where the leases expire during the 2000-01 financial year. It is reasonable to assume that these vehicles will be replaced with new vehicles; therefore there will thirty nine [39] new vehicles leased.

(b) It is difficult to predict the make and model of the replacement vehicles leased as this will depend upon either the operational requirements at the time (for general-use vehicles) or the personal preferences of SES officers provided with a vehicle under the Executive Vehicle Scheme.

(3) (a) During the 1999-2000 financial year, DETYA leased 87 new vehicles.

(b) The makes, models, and power ratings are as follows:

(4) There are no vehicles in DETYA's fleet powered by either LPG or CNG.

(5) DETYA does not have its own refuelling stations.

(6) DETYA supports the Government's energy usage policy and staff are aware that the policy must be supported by selection of fuel-efficient vehicles and by the monitoring of vehicle usage, performance and overall fuel consumption. This regulation is set out in DETYA's Chief Executive Instructions and is available to all staff via the Intranet.

(7) The fuel efficiency rating for all cars in the fleet is as follows:

* No data available from DASFleet

(8) The comparison between the fuel rating and actual average consumption is set out in the following table:

* Fuel consumption data supplied by DASFleet.

** No data available from DASFleet

(9) (a) Below is a table which sets out the potential savings had DETYA's fleet used LPG rather than ULP during the 1999-2000 financial year. These figures must be considered in the context of the greater initial cost and ongoing leasing charges for vehicles converted to LPG. Also, passenger vehicles running on LPG use more litres over the same distance than the same vehicles running on ULP.

(b) Given the limited availability of CNG, there is insufficient data available upon which to provide an accurate potential saving had this fuel been used.