HC Deb 20 June 1979 vol 968 cc564-6W
Mr. Fry

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide an estimate for 1979–80 of the taxation revenue and public road cost figures given in page 112 of the transport policy consultation document; and if he will break down the road cost figures into construction, maintenance, traffic policing, courts and administration.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information is as follows:

Public Road Costs for 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80

The average expenditure for the United Kingdom on highway provision, maintenance and administration, and on traffic policing in the three years ending 1979–80 at mid 1979–80 prices is estimated to be:

£ million
New construction 930
Maintenance 830
Administration 250
Traffic policing 160
2,170

The information which would enable an estimate to be made of expenditure on traffic cases in the courts is not available. The difference between the £2,170 million estimated expenditure shown above and the £2,000 million shown in the table as "Costs attributed" arises from £170 million of expenditure attributed to pedestrians and motor cyclists.

TAXATION REVENUE AND PUBLIC ROAD COSTS 1979–80—UNITED KINGDOM
Estimated taxation revenue Revenue to cost ratios
Vehicle category Vehicle numbers thousands VED £ million Fuel £ tax* million Total £ million Car tax* £ million Total (including car tax) £ million Costs attributed £ million Excluding car tax Including car tax
Cars and taxis:
non-business 14,810 540 1,360 1,900 370 2,270 845 2.2:1 2.6:1
business 200 505 705 140 845 325 2.2:1 2.6:1
Buses and coaches 78 3 90† 93 93 65 1.4:1 1.4:1
Light vans (under 30 cwt. unladen) 1,206 70 165 235 235 80 2.9:1 2.9:1
Goods vehicles (over 30 cwt. unladen) 578 235 495 730 730 655 1.1:1 1.1:1
All vehicles 16,672 1,048 2,615 3,663 510 4,173 2,000 1.8:1 2.1:1
* Fuel tax calculated on the basis that the tax changes made in the 12 June Budget applied throughout the 1979–80 financial year.
† Fuel tax rebate on stage services (£72 million) not deducted.

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