HC Deb 22 May 1980 vol 985 c349W
Mr. Lawrence

asked the Minister of of Transport what was the shortfall between vehicle excise duty assessed and collected in each of the past three years.

Mr. Fowler

After allowing for refunds, vehicle excise duty collected in 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80 amounted to £1,024 million, £1,065 million and £1,109 millon respectively. There is no completely accurate assessment of unpaid duty but a survey my Department published in 1978 suggested that the total loss of revenue from evasion could be between £70–£100 million a year.