HC Deb 18 June 1958 vol 589 cc1066-8
12. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why Mr. A. Richards, 52, Parkside Avenue, Barnehurst, has on two occasions been asked to take his three-wheeler motor car all the way to Maidstone to be weighed for taxation purposes when there is a public weighbridge within a mile of his home; and, in view of the loss of work and expense in which he has been involved, if Mr. Richards may now be reassured that the dispute has been resolved and that he will be required to pay £5 per annum tax instead of the £12 10s. asked from him.

Mr. Nugent

As my right hon. Friend has explained in a letter to the hon. Member, Mr. Richards was invited to bring his vehicle to Maidstone because he disputed the weight as registered at the local weighbridge. The weight of this vehicle, after various adjustments were made, has now been finally determined as below 8 cwt. and Mr. Richards is therefore entitled to the £5 rate.

Mr. Dodds

But can the Minister explain why it has been necessary to wait thirteen months before the official weight can be established? Is not he aware how difficult it is to clean all the dirt off after thirteen months and how much dirt can be picked up on the long journey from Barnehurst to Maidstone in wet weather? Is he aware that, even after all that, it was only 4 lb. over and that, for the 4 lb., Mr. Richards was asked to pay £7 10s., but that when he got back home he took off 5 lb. of mud which, at that rate, worked out at 30s. a lb.? Cannot something be done to help people to enjoy the pleasure of a motor car and will the Minister not make it a nightmare with these cat-and-mouse tactics?

Mr. Nugent

I think that the hon. Gentleman is giving a slightly unfair impression. The procedure is that the vehicle is registered as under 8 cwt. on application. It may be six to twelve months later that it is called in to have its weight physically checked. It was then found, on 8th February, to be overweight—

Mr. Dodds

Four lb.

Mr. Nugent

No, 40 lb.; he had, therefore, collected nearly half a cwt. of mud underneath. After a certain amount of reweighing and adjustment, he was finally able to make the right weight. The fact is that this was very near the borderline.

Mr. Dodds

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Owing to the fact that the Minister has given the wrong weight, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.