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15 Oct 2003 : Column 285W—continued

Motability Scheme

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cars receive road tax exemption through the Motability scheme; how much this exemption costs; what the financial value is of this exemption; how many of the exempted cars are registered to people aged 65 years and over; what plans he has to extend the exemptions to adapted cars brought by people disabled after their 65th birthday; and if he will estimate the cost of extending the exemptions. [132373]

John Healey: This exemption cost the Exchequer an estimated £111 million in 2001–02.

At the end of September 2003 there were 371,000 agreements for Motability cars (either contract hire or hire purchase). 26 per cent. of these were in the 65+ age group.

The Chancellor keeps all taxation policy under review and any changes are announced in the context of his Budget statement after considering relevant economic, social and environmental factors.

15 Oct 2003 : Column 286W

Pricing and Dissemination Policies

Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recommendations of the Cross-Cutting Review of the Knowledge Economy published in December 2000 have been implemented; and if he will make a statement; [132168]

(2) what steps he has taken to implement Recommendation 15 of the Cross-Cutting Review of the Knowledge Economy published in December 2000; and if he will make a statement; [132169]

(3) what representations he has received on the economics of information pricing within the public sector. [132170]

John Healey: Recommendations relating to the pricing and dissemination policies of Government Departments, agencies and trading funds have been implemented via the application of the following new policy guidance from HM Treasury to public bodies:

Selling into Wider Markets: A Policy Note for Public Bodies, December 2002; and


Charging for Information: When and How—Guidance for Government Departments and other Crown bodies, July 2001.

Recommendations relating to the development of a new class licence for facilitating the re-use of Crown copyright material with the minimum of administration have been implemented and the Click-Use Licence was launched in April 2001. The Government consulted on an enhanced role for Her Majesty's Stationery Office as the regulatory authority for Government information, working closely with the private sector, and subsequently a new Information Fair Trader Scheme was launched last year. The first accreditation of a trading fund member of the Scheme was announced in May 2003.

The new Advisory Panel on Crown Copyright, a non-departmental public body, was established on 14 April 2003 by the Cabinet Office. Its role is:

to advise Ministers on how to encourage and create opportunities in the information industry for greater re-use of Government information;


to advise the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office about changes and opportunities in the information industry, so that the licensing of Crown copyright information is aligned with current and emerging developments; and


to advise on the impact of the complaints procedures under the Information Fair Trader Scheme.

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