Government told: apologise to motorcyclists

The Government should apologise to motorcyclists for falsely claiming nearly 40% of motorycles are untaxed, senior MPs have said.

• Government data on motorcycle tax evasion “could have been made up”

The Commons Public Accounts Committee issued a new apology to motorcyclists for quoting the Government figure in a report and said the Department for Transport (DfT) should say sorry for issuing it in the first place.

Edward Leigh MP, chair of the committee, said: “I apologise again to law-abiding motorcyclists and others offended by the figures in our original report.

“I look to the Department to make a similar apology.”

He spoke as the committee published a new report, revising the motorcycle tax evasion figure to 9.8%.

The Motorcycle Industry Association said: “Mr Leigh’s statement reinforces the view held by the MCIA and other motorcycle groups that the majority of riders do not evade tax.

“It is likely that even the latest much lower estimate is still wide of the mark.”