§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his forthcoming Budget he will arrange for penalties for the evasion of the payment of the road fund licence to include four times the normal licence fee and for reclaiming back for a period up to seven years of arrears of the tax due.
§ Mr. MacDermotI have noted my hon. Friend's suggestions. Under the existing law the courts may impose a penalty for unlicensed use of up to three times the appropriate rate of duty.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the Greater London area there are at least 70,000 unlicensed vehicles on the roads; what estimate he has made of the loss to the revenue by the evasion of this tax on a national basis; and what action he has taken, or proposes to take, in pursuance of his review, to ensure that the continued evasion of this tax is ended.
§ Mr. MacDermotThe answer to the first part of the Question is "No"; to the second part that no estimate is possible; and to the third part that my right 259W hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, who is responsible for the administration of the Acts, is keeping the matter under continuous surveillance.