HC Deb 28 March 1979 vol 965 cc442-3
7. Mr. Montgomery

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost of the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in each year since its establishment, and what it was originally estimated to cost.

Mr. Horam

I shall circulate a breakdown of the annual figures in the Official Report. The 1965 estimate of costs over a 10-year period was £95 million. In the event, expenditure at 1965 prices was £145 million.

Mr. Montgomery

Does the Under-Secretary of State accept that perhaps the centre has not lived up to its high hopes? Does he now admit that it was a mistake to put vehicle licensing on a national basis? In view of all the complaints that he must have received from Members of Parliament about the inefficiency of the centre, does he really believe that the taxpayer is getting value for money?

Mr. Horam

Frankly, that is now history. We must deal with the situation as it is at present. I can tell the House that I am very pleased with the improvements that have taken place over the past 12 months. For example, I am now receiving 40 per cent. fewer inquiries from Members of Parliament.

Mr. Anderson

Will my hon. Friend confirm that, compared with the estimate which the 1961 Conservative Government accepted for Concorde, the estimates that he has presented are spot on?

Mr. Horam

That is a fair point.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

May I refer the hon. Gentleman to the records of the former LTOs, which are still held at Swansea and Llandaff? Bearing in mind the enormous importance of these records to police detection and the prevention of crime, why did he agree to the destruction of 1,500,000 of those documents a month or so ago, and why is he accepting that 15 million more should be des-

COST OF DRIVER AND VEHICLE LICENSING
£ million
1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73
New System costs* 0.2 0.3 0.9 1.7 3.7
Old System costs† 8.4 8.2 9.5 11.0 13.0
Post Office costs… 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.9 2.0
Total costs (actual) 10.2 10.0 12.2 14.6 18.7
Total costs (1965 prices) 9.0 8.5 9.5 10.4 12.4
1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78
New System costs* 7.2 13.0 22.7 30.1 34.4
Old System costs† 14.9 19.0 24.4 20.8 11.0
Post Office costs 3.0 4.7 6.2 8.5 9.9
Total costs (actual) 25.1 36.7 53.3 59.4 55.3
Total costs (1965 prices) 15.5 19.0 21.7 21.8 17.5
* These costs increased as licensing was taken onto the centralised system.
† These costs decreased after 1975 as work was transferred from the local taxation office.