§ 8. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his estimate of the annual cost of allowing people of pensionable age and other social security benefit recipients, subject to the possession of a valid driving licence, to road-tax one car for £10 a year; if he will take steps to introduce this £10 road tax concession for these groups; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State, Treasury (Mr. William Rodgers)I regret that information on which a reliable estimate could be based is not available. We shall bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind, but I do not think that a concession of this kind would be the fairest way of helping those in need and I doubt that it could be adopted without the risk of widespread abuse.
§ Mr. RobertsWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that in a car-dominated constituency such as mine, a growing number of pensioners wish to run their cars after retirement, and the present level of road fund tax is an intolerable burden on such car-minded pensioners?
§ Mr. RodgersI shall bear that in mind, though I do not necessarily accept my hon. Friend's conclusion.