§ Mr. Conwayasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the bodies which have urged him to set the vehicle licensing date at October each year.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerWe have received representations from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in support of the move to October.
§ Mr. Conwayasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the savings to be made by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre as a result of changing the annual vehicle licensing date to October.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMoving the month of change of the vehicle age identification letter to October will produce savings of about £100,000 a year at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre. In addition, there will be improvements in the level of service provided by the centre for the motoring trade and general public. These were not, however, significant factors in reaching the decision to move to October.
§ Mr. Conwayasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the change in the number of jobs in the motor dealer operation as a result of altering the annual vehicle licensing date to October.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThere is no basis for making such an estimate since the view of a major part of the motor industry has been that October would overall be the most 479W beneficial alternative to the present August change. If the industry as a whole now wants another arrangement, we are prepared to consider it.