Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 11 March (HL14007), what investigations they make into the reasons why the Dart Charge payment has not been made when communicating with those who have defaulted on such a payment; and what options they are considering to improve compliance with the payment of that charge.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Highways England is able to consider reasons for non-compliance when customers opt to challenge their Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) through the relevant representations process. Highways England considers the reasons presented on a case by case basis. If the representation is rejected, the customer may appeal that decision through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
The current compliance rate is 95 per cent, demonstrating that the vast majority of customers are using the scheme successfully. Highways England undertakes a variety of measures to enable and encourage compliance, providing a range of payment options, including pre-pay accounts; allowing for payment up to midnight the day after a crossing is made; and allowing an additional 14 days for payment for first time offences. In addition, it also has a comprehensive signage strategy which includes the use of advance directional signs, variable message signs and safety signs. This is reinforced by public communications campaigns to inform drivers, both in the UK and overseas, about the payment arrangements and the road layout.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 21 February (HL13555), in the period 30 November 2014 to 31 December 2018 (1) what was the total amount received as a result of people paying the Dart Charge correctly and on time, (2) what was the total gross amount of penalties, following any discount for early payment, incurred by the 11,058,152 people who did not make the payment correctly, and (3) of those 11,058,152 people, how many (a) paid using the discount, (b) paid the full penalty without requiring bailiff action, and (c) required bailiff action to recover the debt; and what was the amount recovered through each of these means.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The total amount received as a result of people paying the Dart Charge correctly and within the required time-frame to comply with the scheme order between 30 November 2014 and 31 December 2018 is approximately £424 million.
The total revenue received from enforcement activity is recorded in the Dartford Thurrock River Crossing audited accounts, published annually.
Enforcement revenue includes Penalty Charge Notices paid, including at the discounted rate, and revenue from bailiff action. Information on the breakdown of enforcement revenue is being withheld because it would be prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs, insofar as it could reduce the effectiveness of enforcement activity and reduce compliance rates.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many penalty notices have been issued for non-payment of the Dart Charge; and what steps they intend to take, if any, to (1) inform motorists about how to pay, and (2) encourage compliance.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
During the period of 30 November 2014 to 31 December 2018, the total number of penalty charge notices issued for non-payment of the Dart Charge was 11,058,152. Highways England have a comprehensive signage strategy for road users, including use of advance directional signs, variable message signs and safety signs. This is reinforced by public information campaigns to inform drivers, both in the UK and overseas, about the payment arrangements and the road layout.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to add the type of insurance held to the information displayed when a registration number is entered into the Motor Insurance Database, so that passengers using, or firms employing, minicabs, can check that those cabs are properly insured.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Motor Insurance Database (MID) is owned and managed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). The information contained within the database is provided by the motor insurance industry. The Government has no plans to propose changes to the MID.
The MID already contains data fields to capture and display information about the type of use that the vehicle is insured against. For example Social, Domestic and Pleasure purposes or for Hire and Reward. However, in some instances this data is not uploaded to the MID by the insurance company, and instead one is referred to the insurance company for specific details. This information is not publicly available but is available to the Police for insurance enforcement purposes. Passengers and firms employing minicabs do not have the right to check insurance against the MID.