HC Deb 20 February 1987 vol 110 cc840-1W
Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total revenue received in respect of road fund licences in 1985–86 for both private and commercial vehicles.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Vehicle excise duty collected in the United Kingdom in 1985–86 on private and goods vehicles amounted to £2,384 million, of which £1,936 million related to private and light goods vehicles up to 1,525 kgs, and £448 million to goods vehicles above that weight.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of collection of road fund licences for private and commercial vehicles in 1985–86.

Mr. Michael Spicer

A separate figure for the cost of collection of vehicle excise duty is not available. The combined cost of collecting VED and registering vehicles in the United Kingdom in 1985–86 was £94 million.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the level of evasion of road fund licences in 1985–86 as a percentage of vehicles on the road.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The latest estimates of VED evasion in Great Britain are based on a survey undertaken in June 1984. Some 5 per cent, of the vehicles then in use on the roads were estimated to be unlicensed. The gross loss of revenue from evasion was assessed at about 4 per cent., equivalent to some £99 million in 1985–86 excluding recoveries from enforcement. No recent Northern Ireland estimates are available.