§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHasked Her Majesty's Government:
872WAWhat is the cost of administering the licensing duty for motor vehicles; how many public servants are employed at the licensing center at Swansea and elsewhere in this connection; and what estimate has been made about the level of evasion of this duty.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Lord Bellwin)Vehicle Excise duty currently raises an estimated £1,090 million. The provisional estimate of the total cost of the vehicle registration and licensing system in 1978–79 is £55 million, which represents 5 per cent of VED revenue. 2,260 civil servants are employed in local offices and 3,040 at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre (including Common Services support staff) on this work. As the noble Lord knows, a survey conducted by the previous Administration suggested that about 7 per cent. to 9 per cent. of car owners were evading duty.
House adjourned at twenty-three minutes before nine o'clock.