§ 19. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield of the licences for heavy lorries 962 of 10 tons burden and over for the last financial year.
§ Mr. GreenPrecise figures are not available. An estimate of the yield from these vehicles based on a survey indicates an annual revenue of approximately £600,000.
§ Mr. DigbyIs my hon. Friend aware that some of us doubt whether these vehicles are making a full contribution towards the cost of the wear and tear that they cause to the roads, particularly in view of the problem which their proliferation is causing to the railways and the constant loss to the Revenue?
§ Mr. GreenI understand my hon. Friend's point, but I think that it is very difficult to establish with any equity or accuracy what rates of licence duty for different classes of vehicle would precisely reflect the road costs for which each is responsible. This is a real difficulty.