HC Deb 06 December 1994 vol 251 cc177-8W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had with local authority associations to discuss the imposition of vehicle excise duty on local authority vehicles, including mowing machines, gritters and snowploughs.

Mr. Norris

None.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the meetings he has had with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on the imposition of vehicle excise duty on lifeboat haulage vehicles; and what consideration has been given to the increased financial and administrative burden this will place on the RNLI.

Mr. Norris

None.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide an estimate of the number of vehicles in each of the new tax classes, special vehicles, special concessionary and emergency vehicles, set out in leaflet INF 27 issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Mr. Norris

The number of vehicles in each of the proposed new tax classes is as follows:

  • special vehicles class 92,000
  • special concessionary 281,000
  • emergency vehicles class 39,000

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the extra financial burden on the farming industry as a result of his decision to introduce vehicle taxation for agricultural machines.

Mr. Norris

Taxation is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In his Budget statement, he announced no change to the rate of duty for agricultural machines, which remains at £35.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of meetings he has had with representatives of the emergency services to discuss the imposition of vehicle excise duty on some emergency vehicles; and what consideration has been given to the increased financial and administrative burden.

Mr. Norris

None.