Vehicle Excise Duty

HC Deb 21 October 2003 vol 411 c491W

Mr. Laws

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Government imposes vehicle excise duty on vehicle ownership; and if he will make a statement. [132902]

John Healey

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) helps ensure that all motorists contribute to the costs of maintaining and policing the road network. The VED system is also important in helping the enforcement of vehicle insurance and registration rules, and it enables discounts to be offered to help disabled drivers. The graduation of VED from March 2001 in relation to the carbon dioxide emissions and the pollution of cars has been important in helping to strengthen the signals for environmentally responsible behaviour by motorists.