HL Deb 18 February 1999 vol 597 cc94-5WA
Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the annual rate of Vehicle Excise Duty for a "Special Types" vehicle used for moving abnormal loads; and how many vehicles are:

  1. (a) registered as "Special Types; and
  2. (b) currently taxed as "Special Types". [HL1042]

Lord Whitty

The current annual rate of Vehicle Excise Duty for a "Special Types" vehicle is £5,170.

  1. (a) No specific registration figures are kept for these vehicles.
  2. (b) There were 984 vehicles licensed in the "Special Types" taxation class on 30 September 1998.

Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current interval between surrender of licence and payment of the refund for:

  1. (a) "Special Types" vehicles; and
  2. (b) "PLG" vehicles. [HL1043]

Lord Whitty

The time taken for the delivery from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of a refund for a Special Types vehicles is normally within six weeks, whilst the time taken for the delivery of one for PLG vehicles is normally within three weeks.

Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they consider the likely effect of any significant delay of the refund of "Special Types" Vehicle Excise duty on:

  1. (a) the cash flow of the haulage operator; and
  2. (b) the willingness of an operator to tax a vehicle correctly and legally for an occasional "Special Types" abnormal load. [HL1044]

Lord Whitty

Whilst the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions does not collect separate figures on the number of operators who fail correctly to license vehicles to carry abnormal loads, there is no evidence to suggest that the current refund procedures are a factor in decisions about licensing taken by operators.