HC Deb 24 April 1989 vol 151 cc450-1W
38. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate, using United States' experience, the cost of recording car mileages through the driver and vehicle licensing centre.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The annual cost of recording car mileages at the driver and vehicle licensing centre is estimated to be in excess of £3 million, in addition to the costs of setting up such a system. No comparison with the United States' experience can be made given the diversity of licensing and registration procedures applicable in individual states. The problems are accuracy and effectiveness as well as cost.

I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King).

50. Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why he has refused to introduce a system of mileage logging when vehicle excise licences are renewed.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The Government's reasons for not doing so are set out in my letter of 16 March to the Director General of Fair Trading, Sir Gordon Borrie. A copy has been placed in the Library.