HC Deb 26 April 1976 vol 910 cc16-7W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are still employed in vehicle licensing at offices other than at the Swansea centre.

Mr. Marks

5,850.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he expects the transfer of vehicle licensing to the centralised system to take.

Mr. Marks

Until early 1978.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for licences are received by the Swansea Vehicle Licensing Centre, on average, each day.

Mr. Marks

6,500 vehicle licences.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for vehicle licences are still received by offices other than at the Swansea centre.

Mr. Marks

About 95 per cent.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time it takes to process an application for a vehicle licence at offices other than the Swansea centre.

Mr. Marks

About two days for a postal application, and immediately over the counter.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many computers have been installed at the Swansea Vehicle Licensing Centre; and what is their cost.

Mr. Marks

Three—at a cost of £2.3 million.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been made redundant from local vehicle licensing offices as a result of the transfer of licensing to the Swansea centre.

Mr. Marks

None. The issue of licences is not being transferred to the Swansea centre.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total employment at the vehicle licensing centre at Swansea when the transfer of licensing from local offices to the centre has finally been completed.

Mr. Marks

About 5,500 when centralisation of licensing and registration records is complete.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of building the vehicle licensing centre at Swansea.

Mr. Marks

Around £10 million.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present average time taken to process an application for a licence at the Swansea centre.

Mr. Marks

Three and a half days for a vehicle licence.

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are at present employed at the vehicle licensing centre at Swansea.

Mr. Marks

5,150—on both driver licensing and vehicle registration and licensing work.