§ Mr. Radiceasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests for forms to reclaim vehicle excise duty overpaid at the time of last year's Budget have been received; how many of them were received after the closing date for such requests; and what evidence there is of invalid claims.
§ Mr. William RodgersA total of 205,000 requests have been received, some 31,000 of them after 7th April, the closing date. However, I have decided as a matter of policy to send forms in response to all requests that have reached the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre before it closes tonight. Careful checking of claims suggests that some 20 per cent. fall outside the criteria which entitle claimants to repayment. I take this opportunity to reiterate that the closing date for the receipt of claims is 28th April.