AQW 22588/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health

To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans (i) his Department; and (ii) its arm's-length bodies has to change its vehicles to electric vehicles.

Asked by John Blair MLA on 14 February 2025

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
14 February 2025
Answer due by
3 March 2025
Answered
3 March 202517 days after tabling
Department
Department of Health
Priority question
No

Answer

My Department owns 1 motor vehicle- the Ministerial car. This is a hybrid vehicle which is powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

My Department has asked its Arm’s-Length Bodies to develop an approach to enable the phasing out of fossil-fuel vehicles in health and social care fleets. This includes consideration of alternative fuels such as Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as an interim lower carbon fuel and electricity. Any change to electric vehicles will be part of the organization’s fleet asset management plan taking account of the vehicle type and age, affordability, installed charging infrastructure for fleet and suitable electric vehicle availability.

Official sources