§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will give as much information as may be available showing the rise and fall in the costs, inclusive, of the administration in all respects of the road fund and driving licence departments of his Department; and to what extent the move to Swansea and computerisation have been responsible for any such savings.
§ Mr. HoramOperating costs to be borne by the Department in 1978–79 are estimated at £43.4 million. Comparable figures—at constant prices—for the last three years were £61.5 million, £59.4 million, and £46.8 million. The fall reflects the completion of conversion from the old to the new system.
We estimate that the present cost of the old system, if it could have survived so long, would have been much the same as that now being incurred.