HC Deb 29 November 1978 vol 959 cc243-4W
45. Mr. Burden

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest figures for the annual cost of the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre; how many people are currently employed at the centre; and what were the original figures estimated by the 1965 working party.

76. Mr. Charles Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest figures for the annual cost of the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre; how many people are currently employed at the centre; and what were the original figures estimated by the 1965 working party.

Mr. Horam:

The estimated cost of running the centralised licensing system in 1978–79 is £49.3 million at November 1977 prices. There are 5,100 staff at the DVLC and 2,100 in local offices. The working party estimated in 1965 that annual running costs would be £10.5 million in 1973 and that staff would total 3,950. If the figure of £10.5 million is expressed in November 1977 prices, and adjusted for the growth in licensing since 1973, it becomes £39 million. The staff total could also be expected to have increased with the growth in drivers and vehicles.

57. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest figures for the annual cost of the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licen- sing Centre; how many people are employed at the centre; and what were the equivalent figures under the previous non-centralised system.

Mr. Horam:

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. MacKay).