HC Deb 17 March 1983 vol 39 cc246-7W
Mr. Snape

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1983–84 the taxation revenue and public road cost figures in the same form as in c. 205 and 206 of the Official Report of 20 March 1981; if he will present a table showing the revenue, cost and revenue to cost ratios for the main categories of goods vehicles, giving the number of vehicles in each category; if he will break down the road cost figure into its constituent components; and if he will include an assessment of the likely position for the new 38-tonne vehicles to be permitted in May 1983.

Mr. David Howell

The information is as follows Taxation revenue and public road costs for 1983–84 are shown in table 1. Taxation revenue, attributed costs, and revenue to cost ratios for selected categories of goods vehicles are shown in table 2.

The average expenditure on highway provision, maintenance, administration and traffic policing in the three years ending 1983–84 is estimated to be:

£m
New Construction 1330
Maintenance 1390
Administration 290
Traffic policing 230
3,240

The difference between the £3,240 million estimated expenditure shown above and the £2,990 million shown in table 1 as "Costs attributed" arises from £250 million of expenditure attributed to pedestrians and motor cyclists.

The estimated taxation revenue and attributed costs of the new 38-tonnes vehicles are shown in table 2.

Table 1
Taxation Revenue and Public Road Costs, 1983–84—United Kingdom
Estimated Taxation Revenue Revenue to Cost Ratios
Vehicle Category Vehicle Numbers VED Fuel Tax Total Car Tax Total (including car tax) Costs attributed Excluding car tax Including car tax
000's £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million
Cars and taxis:
Non-business 16,361 1,020 3,030 4,050 440 4,490 1,310 3.1:1 3.4:1
Business 380 1,120 1,500 160 1,660 480 3.1:1 3.4:1
Buses and Coaches 74 5 150 * 155 — 155 120 1.3:1 1.3:1
Light Vans (not over 30 cwt. unladen 1,225 100 340 440 — 440 110 4.0:1 4.0:1
Goods vehicles (over 30 cwt unladen):
Not over 3.5 tonnes GVW 80 10 20 30 — 30 10 3.0:1 3.0:1
Over 3.5 tonnes GVW 434 360 610 970 — 970 960 1.0:1 1.0:1
All vehicles 18,174 1,875 5270 7145 600 7745 2,990 2.4:1 2.6:1
* Fuel tax rebate on stage services (£110m) not deducted.

Table 2
Taxation revenue, attributed costs, revenue to cost ratios and numbers of vehicles in selected categories of vehicle
GVW (tonnes) Taxation revenue Attributed costs Revenue to cost ratio Number of licensed vehicles
Over Not over £ per annum £ per annum
Rigid vehicles
2 axles 3.5 5 410 170 2.4:1 15,000
12 13 1,250 850 1.5:1 24,000
16 17 2,010 2,020 1.0:1 72,000
3 axles 16 17 720 380 1.9:1 †
24 25 2,940 2,960 1.0:1 24,000
4 axles 24 25 1,880 1,390 1.4:1 †
30 31 5,090 5,140 1.0:1 15,000
Articulated vehicles
3 axles 12 13 1,140 490 2.3:1 †
16 17 1,720 1,040 1.7:1 2,000
24 25 3,190 2,920 1.1:1 3,000
4 axles 24 25 2,890 2,110 1.4:1 †
32 32.5 5,850 6,730 0.9:1 75,000
5 axles—2 axle tractor with 3 axle trailer 32 32.5 5,160 5,390 1.0:1 †
37 38 6,990 6,990 1.0:1 ‡
3 axle tractor with 2 axle tractor 32 32.5 4,680 4,840 1.0:1 †
37 38 6,810 6,810 1.0:1 ‡
6 axles—3 axle tractor with 3 axle trailer 32 32.5 4,220 4,210 1.0:1 †
37 38 5,400 5,400 1.0:1 ‡
All vehicles over 30 cwt unladen 1,000m 970m 1.0:1 514,000
* As at September, 1982.
† Less than 1,000 vehicles.
‡ Not permitted on the roads until 1 May 1983, hence the numbers are not known. Taxation revenue and attributed costs are estimated on an annual basis.