§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis £300 is charged for heavy goods vehicle licences and only 15p for public service vehicle licences; and on what basis 27½p. is charged for a PSV driving test and £24.00 for an HGV driving test.
§ Dr. GilbertThe fees for HGV drivers' licences and HGV driving tests are prescribed under Sections 120(1) and 119(1)(i) respectively of the Road Traffic Act 1972 to secure direct recovery of costs. The fee for an HGV driving licence is in fact £3 not £300. There is no power to charge a fee for a PSV driving650W test, but legislation to confer such a power is under consideration. Meanwhile, the attributable costs are recovered from other PSV fees, including the driving licence fee, which are to be increased on 13th August under SIs No. 1113 and 1114. No part of the cost of PSV testing and licensing is borne by the heavy goods vehicle fees.