Concern has been expressed over pollution from government ministers' cars

The drivers of ministerial cars should be provided with rest facilities to stop them polluting the atmosphere by keeping engines running at Westminster in a bid to stay warm.

The call came from Labour's Rob Marris, who observed: "The Government, quite rightly, keeps banging on about cutting vehicle emissions.

"Yet outside your official residence Mr Speaker, where the ministers' cars sit, in inclement weather the drivers sit there with their motors running - presumably to keep warm.

"And when it's hot weather they sit there with their motors running - presumably with the air-conditioning on.

"Yet there are serried ranks of Toyota Prius hybrid out there run by ministers to cut emissions."

Mr Marris urged Commons Leader Harriet Harman: "Can you liaise with your colleagues and perhaps provide suitable facilities for the drivers to stay in a room off that parking area, where they can stay warm in winter and cool in summer and not pollute the atmosphere unnecessarily?"

Ms Harman said she would raise the matter with transport ministers.