§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline how the vehicle excise duty on (a) 32.5 tonne, 4-axle lorries of £2,290 and (b) 38 tonne, 5-axle lorries of £2,940, is calculated; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneThe Government's objective is that each class of goods vehicle should cover at least its attributed road track costs through the taxatio:n it pays —vehicle excise duty and fuel duty. The results of the calculation of road costs for various classes of vehicle were given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport in reply to the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) on 17 March 1983. —[Vol. 39, c. 246–48.] This shows that the vehicle excise duty rate of £2,940 for 38 tonne lorries with 2-axle tractors and 3-axle trailers has been set so that such lorries fully cover their road costs. The recent duty increase for 32.5 tonne 4-axle lorries is a further significant step towards achieving the Government's overall objective.