HC Deb 22 January 1985 vol 71 c397W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East of 17 January, if he will introduce legislation (a) to require drivers of electrically assisted pedal cycles to pass a driving test, hold a current driving licence and possess a valid motor insurance certificate, (b) to render the owners of such vehicles liable to vehicle excise duty and (c) to require such vehicles to be submitted to a periodic roadworthiness test; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

No. Legislation has only recently provided for electrically assisted pedal cycles to be treated as pedal cycles not as motor vehicles. This excludes them from requirements relating to driver testing and licensing, compulsory motor insurance and tests of roadworthiness. All electric vehicles are exempt from vehicle excise duty. I have no grounds for seeking a reversal of Parliament's decision.