Govt departments slash auto expenses

At least 16 government departments in Beijing scrapped plans to spend millions of yuan on new vehicles last year, amid increasing pressure by the government to curb the use of official cars.

According to the final figures on the expenditure of 27 departments, released on Wednesday, 16 of the departments were cautious with their budgets.

More than 50 local government departments in Beijing are being required to reveal their spending for fiscal year 2011.