§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is aware that the cost to industry in both the public and private sectors for the introduction of the tachographs on vehicles as laid down by the EEC regulations is liable to be in the region of £100 million, and that the recurring costs are expected to be within the region of £34 million per annum; what would be the costs to industry of the fees payable for the administration of the tachograph calibration centres; and what action he is taking to reduce these costs which will be passed to the consumer.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe costs quoted by my hon. Friend would arise only if the use of tachographs was made mandatory. The administrative costs of the scheme for giving Government approval to tachograph calibration centres are covered by the fee of £120 paid by the owner of the centre. The £10 fees paid by transport operators for calibration at a centre are included in the estimate of £34 million per annum recurring costs. The costs for fitting, calibrating and maintaining tachographs represent in any case an extremely small proportion of operating costs.