HC Deb 22 April 1977 vol 930 cc172-6W
Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide an estimate for 1977–78 of the taxation revenue and public road cost figures given in page 112 of the transport policy consultation document; and if he will break down the road cost figures into construction, maintenance, traffic policing, courts and administration.

Mr. William Rodgers

The information asked for is given below:

TAXATION REVENUE AND PUBLIC ROAD COSTS 1977–78—GREAT BRITAIN
Taxation revenue
Vehicle numbers (thousands) Total (including car tax) Revenue to cost ratios
Vehicle category VED* Fuel tax* VAT† Total Car tax Costs attributed Excluding car tax Including car tax
£m. £m. £m. £m. £m. £m. £m.
Cars and Taxis—non-business … … … 14,990 510 1,175 130 1,815 170 1,985 800 2.3: 1 2.5: 1
business … … … … — 190 440 — 630 65 695 300 2.1: 1 2.3: 1
Buses and Coaches … … … … … 79 3 75‡ — 78 — 78 65 1.2: 1 1.2: 1
Light Vans (under 30 cwt. unladen) … … 1,181 75 230 — 305 — 305 120 2.5: 1 2.5: 1
Goods Vehicles (over 30 cwt. unladen)§ … … 629 215 430 — 645 — 645 640 1.0: 1 1.0: 1
All vehicles … … … … … 16,879 993 2,350 130 3,473 235 3,708 1,925 1.8: 1 1.9: 1
* Based on Budget proposals of 29th March 1977.
† VAT included at 4.5 per cent. on non-business petrol consumption.
‡ Fuel tax rebate on stage services (£60 million) not deducted.
§ All but 12 per cent. of these (about 75,000) are heavier than 3.5 tons gvw.

Public Road costs for 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78

The average expenditure on highway provision, maintenance, and administration, and on traffic policing in the three years ending 1977–78 at 1977–78 prices is estimated to be:

£ million
New construction 1,020
Maintenance 670
Administration 220
Traffic policing 120
2,030

The information which would enable an estimate to be made of expenditure on traffic cases in the courts is not available.

The difference between the £2,030 million estimated expenditure shown above and the £1,925 million shown in the table as "Costs attributed" arises from £95 million of expenditure attributed to pedestrians and motor cyclists.

Mr. Fry

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether, following the increases of motor taxation by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will state the ratio of the motor income taxation and the public road costs attributable to the use of light vans, with 30 cwt. unladen, during the financial year 1976–77 and the estimated ratio during the financial year 1977–78 on the same basis as the information in the Government consultative document on transport policy for the financial year 1975–76;

(2) whether, following the increases of motor taxation by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will state the ratio of the motor income taxation and the public road costs attributable to the use of business cars and taxis during the financial year 1976–77 and the estimated ratio during the financial year 1977–78 on the same basis as the information in the Government consultative document on transport policy for the financial year 1975–76;

(3) whether, following the increases of motor taxation by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will state the ratio of the motor income taxation and the public road costs attributable to the use of non-business cars and taxis during the financial year 1976–77 and the estimated ratio during the financial year 1977–78 on the same basis as the information in the Government consultative document on transport policy for the financial year 1975–76;

(4) whether, following the increases of motor taxation by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he will state the ratio of the motor income taxation and the public road costs attributable to the use of all road transport vehicles during the financial year 1976–77 and the estimated ratio during the financial year 1977–78 on the same basis as the information in the Government consultative document on transport policy for the financial year 1975–76;

Mr. William Rodgers

For information relating to 1976–77 I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2nd March; and for 1977–78 to my reply to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Smith) today.