asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the Government will consider the advisability of altering the basis of taxation of motor vehicles with the object of making the basis have some relation to the amount of damage done to road surfaces?

The Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles is considering afresh the basis of taxation of mechanically-propelled vehicles, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer relating to the Committee's investigations which I gave to the hon. Member for the Chippenham Division on 30th November. I am not prepared to admit that the present system has no relation to the amount of damage done to road surfaces, and the Committee will no doubt bear the point in mind in considering any alternative schemes.