§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport why he has recently raised the fee for a public service vehicle driving licence by 125 per cent.; why the increase over the last five years has amounted to 350 per cent.; and if he will make a statement concerning the calculation of the fees now charged.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe PSV licence fee is now £22.50 for a five-year licence.
It is Government policy that the vocational driver licensing system should be financially self-supporting. The PSV drivers' licence fees have never covered the cost of providing the service. The previous fees, which were set in 1985, were not designed to recover the costs in full. It was recognised at the time that further substantial increases would be needed in order to achieve full recovery. The new fee levels should put these services onto a sound financial footing in the coming years.