§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the 683W Government have to abolish the payment for driving licence renewals for pensioners aged over 70 years; and if he will make a statement. [153538]
§ Mr. HillThere are no plans to abolish the three yearly driving licence renewal fee for the over-70s. Fees are required to cover the costs of issuing licences. Abolishing the fee for renewing licences from age 70 would result in an unacceptable level of cross-subsidisation, which would have to be borne by other drivers through the fees they pay.
The fee was reduced from £8.50 to £ 6.00 in November last year, returning it to its 1992 level. A consultation document issued in February this year proposes a freeze in the over-70s licence renewal fee.