§ 14. Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many claims for compensation his Department have now had arising out of the minimum age for motor cyclists being increased; and how many of these have been paid.
§ Mr. PeytonFour hundred and forty-three claims have been received. I hope that all can be settled very soon.
§ Mr. AshtonIs it not a colossal piece of incompetence that out of 433 cases of compensation none has been settled in the nine months since the Minister admitted his Department's incompetence? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I reported this matter to the Ombudsman and that I have had a letter from the Ombudsman today saying that he is to make an investigation? Why is it that after 433 people have had to suffer damage because of the Department's incompetence, hardly any of them have been paid their compensation?
§ Mr. PeytonBecause each one of these cases needed to be investigated carefully and thoroughly. Every effort has been 1803 made by my Department to meet these claims, and they will be settled soon. The hon. Gentleman talks in a rather big way about monumental incompetence as if he were very familiar with it.
§ Mr. MulleyDid not the unfortunate timing of these regulations, whatever their merits, just before Christmas and without notice, maximise the inconvenience to those concerned and maximise the cost to the Treasury? Will the Minister consider this with a view to trying to time any future changes in a more convenient way?
§ Mr. PeytonCertainly. I greatly regret the inconvenience to the individuals concerned and I have never attempted to deny it. What happened was that local councils, even though they were on notice that this regulation was being introduced, continued their previous practice of issuing licences in advance. On the strength of those licences people bought motor cycles and so on. I repeat that I am sorry for the inconvenience which was caused.