To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2009, Official Report, column 704W, on driving offences: insurance, how many cars were seized for insurance offences and not returned in 2008; how many were sold; and how much was raised from their sale. (255017)

This information is not collected centrally. Available information provided to the Motor Insurance Database indicates that in 2008 there were 185,000 vehicles seized by the police for being driven without appropriate insurance. The Motor Insurers’ Information Centre, which is responsible for the database, indicated that in the preceding year about 40 per cent. of seized vehicles were subsequently destroyed or sold, rather than returned. The proceeds of disposal are paid to the vehicle owner, less any sums due in respect of removal and storage charges.