asked the Minister for Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that persons paying road tax in quarterly instalments do not pay more per annum than the single annual payment.

Motor vehicle duty is basically an annual tax and any provision allowing a licence for a lesser period is a concession and, of course, involves extra administrative costs, thus reducing the net income of the Road Fund. The "surcharge" payable in respect of quarterly licences was halved in 1966 and I do not propose to reduce it further.