§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Transport how many persons, who hold valid driving licences but neither own a vehicle nor have an insurance of their own, have been involved in accidents which have led to court proceedings in the last three years.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThis information is not available.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Transport if he will amend his regulations so as to ensure that every person holding a driving licence must take out his or her own personal third party Road Traffic Act insurance cover-only policy; that such an insurance certificate and driving licence should be one document and incorporate a photograph of the holder and a number to avoid confusion with persons having similar names; and that a flat-rate annual insurance should be payable to the taxation authority when applying for a new driving licence or renewing one.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe object of the present law is to secure compensation for third parties injured as the result of drivers' negligence. In this respect the hon. and gallant Member's proposal appears to have no advantage over the present arrangements and would be more complicated to administer.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Transport if he will give an estimate of the number of persons in the United Kingdom with valid driving licences who neither own a vehicle nor have an insurance of their own.
§ Mr. Tom FraserOn a rough estimate, between 3 and 4 million holders of driving licences do not own a vehicle, but their use of any vehicles must be covered by the third-party insurance related to that vehicle.