asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the gross annual revenue derived from the vehicle excise licensing system; what is his estimate of the total annual cost of administration of the system; how much of this cost is represented by the maintenance of a central registry; and how much by the cost of enforcement of the provisions of the Vehicles (Excise) Act.
Vehicle licensing in Great Britain in 1973–74 yielded £502 million, net of refunds of duty, and cost £14·5 million. This cost includes that of the enforcement work of the Department of the Environment and its agents, which is not separately identified.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated saving in administrative cost derived from the abolition of vehicle excise duty and the substitution of a surcharge on vehicle insurance certificates calculated to yield the same revenue.
No estimate is readily available.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute discussions with the insurance authorities with a view to the abolition of vehicle excise duty and its replacement by a system, operated jointly by insurance companies and the Central Vehicle Licensing Registry, providing for the issue of insurance certificates in the form of discs for display on vehicles and subject to a surcharge calculated to yield the equivalent of vehicle excise duty.
No. I see no clear benefits in a system on such lines. It would have to be very complex if it were to be an adequate replacement for the present registration and licensing arrangements.