HL Deb 06 March 1979 vol 399 cc1-4

2.47 p.m.

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what savings in manpower and bureaucracy are expected at the Swansea Vehicle Licensing Centre to arise from the replacement of vehicle excise duty by increased petrol tax.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Stedman)

My Lords, the abolition of vehicle excise duty on petrol driven vehicles will save over 2,000 Civil Service posts. About 800 of these will be at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre. The financial saving will be some £20 million annually.

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that reply. Can the Government tell us whether they intend proceeding with this proposal?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, consultations are going on with all the relevant bodies at the moment. When we have finished our consultations, then the necessary enactment will be put into force.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Baroness suggest which relevant bodies are being consulted? Do they include the motoring associations?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, we are consulting the motorists; the trades unions representing the staff concerned; the Post Office, as they are involved because they may act as agents in the issuing of the licences; and we are consulting all the people who might be affected, before we come to any firm decision on the date of implementation.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether one of the purposes of this proposition is to reduce squandermania in the matter of petrol, seeing that last year's motorists' rate of consumption was 1 million tons or nearly 6 per cent. more than in the previous year?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, the question of how much petrol people use when it gets to the new price will be for the people concerned. Whether it will lead to a reduced use of petrol because the price will be higher, or whether motorists will continue to use as much, is a matter for the individuals and not for the Government.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the increased use of petrol last year was only reflecting the increased prosperity of the nation under Labour rule?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I do not think I need to answer that one.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

My Lords, as motor-cars will still have to be registered, and I imagine therefore that the log book will have to go to Swansea, may I ask where the economy in manpower is coming from?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, there will be 800 jobs fewer at Swansea. There will still have to be some form of registration system because we shall still need to know which vehicles remain in use, what is the insurance position of the vehicles, information regarding their MOT tests, whether any criminal records are attached to them, and so on. There will still have to be a form of registration, but at this point of time we anticipate that the savings overall in the Swansea staff will number 800.

Lord ALLERTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether, in the event of this legislation going through, it would cut out the work now done by the local councils?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I regret I did not hear the last part of the noble Lord's question.

Lord ALLERTON

My Lords, would it cut out the work done by the local councils in connection with licences?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, the licensing was taken away from the county councils after the reorganisation. In many cases it is now done by local registration offices, and there will be some 1,200 fewer people employed in the local offices, apart from the 800 fewer at Swansea.