Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the European Court of Justice ruling of September 2014, Damijan Vnuk v Zavarovalnica Triglav C-162/13 on insurance for motorised vehicles used off-road, if he will make an assessment of ways in which the effect of the scope of the Motor Insurance Directive (2009/13/EC) could be limited to the use of vehicles in the context of traffic as defined in the Road Traffic Act 1998.

The Department is currently holding a public consultation on the implications of the Vnuk judgment. The Consultation impact assessment assesses the likely costs and benefits arising from two policy options for extending the scope of compulsory motor insurance.

The Government engaged extensively with stakeholders, including those from the motorsport industry, during the preparation of the consultation and impact assessment. I met with a range of representatives from the motorsport industry last month to listen to their concerns about the Vnuk judgment.

The consultation seeks stakeholders’ view about the policy options as well as requesting further information about the potential cost and benefits, including the impact on premiums. This will be used to assess the overall economic impacts of the policy options.

We oppose any measures which impose an unreasonable burden on the public. We will use the consultation responses to get the best result for the country.