HC Deb 06 February 1989 vol 146 c531W
Mr. McTaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road tax discs are lost or stolen each year; and if he has any plans to seek to introduce legislation to deter theft of tax discs.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

On the basis of subsequent applications for refunds or duplicates, very roughly 150,000 licence discs—about 0.5 per cent. of licences issued—are lost or stolen each year.

Theft of licence discs is a crime. There is no need for further legislation.

Mr. McTaggart

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been carried out on theft-proof alternatives to the road tax disc; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The vehicle excise licence disc includes a number of security features which make it difficult to forge or fraudulently alter, and thus make it unattractive to thieves.

Research continues into the possibility of making licences more difficult to remove from vehicle windscreens without affecting the security and other design features. They often need to be removed legitimately for refunds.

Various high-technology alternatives to tax discs have been examined. So far none of them is as cost effective as the present system.