Government has forked out more than $205,000 for a total of 14 new cars since taking office last year, it was revealed on Friday in the House of Assembly.

And the Education Minister Milton Scott's $26,000 Rover 400 topped the price list, with the cheapest being a Daihatsu Cuore at $10,035, four of which were bought by the Health Department.

The news came in answer to questions by Shadow Environment Minister Erwin Adderley of Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott.

And Mr. Scott confirmed that not all of the 80-strong fleet of Government-owned cars were identified with a GP number plate.

He said some cars -- including the Ministry of Transport and the Police Service -- have cars which carried normal plates "for security reasons''.

Mr. Scott said from March 1998 to May 1998, under the previous Government, a total of five cars were acquired at an average cost of $22,000 each, compared to a post-election average of $12,000 per car.

Mr. Adderley said afterwards: "These questions were set down, to some extent, to create a benchmark and we will monitor them as they go forward.'' He added: "I can't fault them on the prices -- the only one I have some concern about is the Rover.

"There is a question as to why they would expend that much money on one car for one Minister as opposed to another.'' Under the previous Government, new cars were bought for the Prison Service, Secretary to the Cabinet Leo Mills, the Minister of Telecommunications, one for the Cabinet pool of vehicles and another for the Minister of Health.

After the Progressive Labour Party victory last November, four small cars were bought for the Works and Engineering Ministry and seven for the Health Department.

The Public Transportation Board received two Suzuki cars at a cost of $17,000 each.

Mr. Scott told MPs that not all Government Ministers had the use of an official car.

And he confirmed that strict rules governing the use of GP cars, instituted by the previous Government, were set out in special rules covering Government and the Civil Service.

Mr. Scott added: "We are aiming to provide those who need cars with them in the future.

"But there is certainly not an intention to do it in the next year -- we're buying them according to budget and need.''