§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of vehicles currently in use without valid vehicle excise duty being paid. [28722]
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§ Mr. NorrisThe estimated number of unlicensed vehicles in use at any one time in Great Britain in 1994–95 was 1.5 million.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the total number of vehicles in use on United Kingdom roads are without current vehicle excise duty road discs. [28723]
§ Mr. NorrisThe estimated percentage of unlicensed vehicles in use on public roads in Great Britain in 1994–95 was 6.2 per cent.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount of vehicle excise duty is forgone as a result of vehicle excise duty evasion. [28724]
§ Mr. NorrisThe estimated VED loss through evasion in Great Britain in 1994–95 was £163 million. This represents4.1 per cent. of the revenue due.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources are applied to combating vehicle excise duty evasion. [28725]
§ Mr. NorrisVehicle excise duty evaders are detected by the police and traffic wardens as part of their normal duties. Follow-up enforcement action, including prosecution work, is the responsibility of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The cost of agency staff directly involved in enforcement activities currently stands at some £26 million per year.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions for vehicle excise duty evasion were brought over the past five years for which figures are available. [28726]
§ Mr. NorrisThe numbers of prosecutions for vehicle excise evasion are shown in the table.
Numbers of vehicle excise duty prosecutions in the five year period 1990–91 to 1994–95 Year Successful prosecutions Unsuccessful prosecutions Total prosecutions 1990–91 141,635 5,635 147,270 1991–92 177,336 5,633 182,969 1992–93 193,291 7,984 201,275 1993–94 207,521 8,441 215,962 1994–95 214,360 8,751 223,111
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to reduce the incidence of vehicle excise duty evasion; and if he will make a statement. [28727]
§ Mr. NorrisWe are currently considering a wide range of proposals. These include measures to improve the quality of the vehicle register and to make it more difficult for motorists to drop out of the licensing system, as well as use of camera technology to automate the detection process.