§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will record the disposals in respect of those persons found guilty of motor vehicle excise licence offences and show (a) how many persons were fined and what was the average fine, (b) how many persons were ordered to pay duty into the court, (c) how many persons were given custodial sentences and at what average cost, and 711W (d) how many persons were otherwise dealt with.
§ Mr. Goodhart, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4 July 1979], gave the following answer:
The information for 1978 is as follows:
- (a) 2,554, the average fine being just over £32;
- (b) 1,824;
- (c) none;
- (d) none.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will detail (a) how many persons were prosecuted for criminal offences in respect of the motor vehicle excise licence, (b) how many persons were found guilty of these offences, and (c) what is the average cost of the prosecution of each motor vehicle excise licence case.
§ Mr. Goodhart, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4 July 1979], gave the following answer:
The information for 1978 is as follows:
- (a) 2,647.
- (b) 2,554.
- (c) The average cost to the Department of Transport is approximately £23.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the saving to his Department in the event of the motor vehicle excise licence being abolished.
§ Mr. Goodhart, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4 July 1979], gave the following answer:
I am not able to make any satisfactory estimate of the overall cost of the present arrangements, in terms of their administration by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and their enforcement by the police. Nor am I able to estimate the overall savings that might accrue from the replacement of these arrangements.