§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the number of vehicles on British roads(a) without insurance and (b) which have not passed their MOT; how many vehicles without insurance were involved in accidents in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has of the number of vehicles without insurance on UK roads over the next five years. [2787]
§ Mr. JamiesonIt is estimated that between 4 per cent. and 6 per cent. of motorists drive while uninsured, an offence for which 300,140 people were convicted during 1999. Estimates of MOT evasion are similar. The Motor Insurance Database will go live later this month and while it is too early to make exact estimates, we expect a considerable reduction in insurance evasion as offenders realise that the chances of being caught will be much higher.
Figures for 2000 show that over 35,000 claims in respect of accidents involving uninsured drivers were made to the Motor insurers Bureau.