§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the total costs involved in running all aspects of car registration and related matters, together with staffs employed immediately prior to moving to Swansea; what are the latest stated figures, including the costs of all matters connected with computerisation, new building and other stated costs; and what has been the total cost involved in the move to Swansea.
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§ Mr. MarksThe cost of vehicle licensing and registration in 1973–74, the last full year before centralisation of the work began, is estimated to have been approximately £19 million. Staff directly employed was about 4,700. The cost in 1975–76 on a comparable price basis and including the transfer of records from local taxation officers was around £30 million and the number of staff directly engaged 6,700. It is estimated that the cost in 1978–79, when centralisation will have been completed, will be about £23 million and staff directly involved about 5,150.
The 1978–79 cost covers an increase in the volume of business largely related to the growth in vehicle population and to improvements made possible by centralisation such as the issue of licence renewal reminders. Capital expenditure on buildings and computer equipment at Swansea and the cost of planning and programming work associated with the change to the centralised driver and vehicle licensing system is approximately £19.8 million. It is not possible to isolate the proportion of this attributable to vehicle licensing and registration without undue effort.