§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East of 16 December, Official Report, column 484, what were the proceeds from the sale or auction of unclaimed wheel-clamped cars during the last year for which figures are available; what is the approximate cost of trying to trace the owner of an unclaimed vehicle; what is the average cost of clamping a vehicle; what has been the total revenue raised in each year since 1983 from unclamping fees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe commissioner has indicated that the information available on the proceeds from the disposal of unclaimed vehicles does not distinguish between those initially wheel-clamped and those simply removed. In the financial year 1985–86 a total of £23,692 was raised through the sale for scrap or auctioning of all unclaimed removed vehicles. No estimate of the average cost of attempting to trace the owners of unclaimed vehicles is available. The average cost of clamping in the financial year 1985–86 was £22.35. The commissioner estimates that the income from wheel-clamping in each calendar year was as follows:
Period Revenue 1983 (from 16 May) 510,400 1984 840,000 1985 681,600 1986 (to 14 November) 686,400