§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Mr. CLAUDE HAYMay I ask those in charge of the Bill to give an explanation of it?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)The object of this Bill, of which I beg to move the second reading, is to enable effect to be given to a Convention of European countries whose representatives suggested arrangements for the convenience of motorists of the various countries. The object is to promote reciprocal registration. Briefly, every year about 2,000 British motorists go to France or other European countries, and every year 700 motorists from European countries come to this country. Under the law as it at present stands it is impossible for a British motorist going 2128 through Europe to get that speedy registration that he ought to have in order to enable him to travel about the Continent as he would travel in his own country. Whilst, on the other hand, if a French motorist comes to England he has to motor for registration to the nearest county town, which is very often a long way from the port at which he arrives. He wastes a considerable amount of time in getting registered, and even then it sometimes happens that a foreign motorist is able to travel from his port to the county town where he secures his registration under circumstances which enable him in many cases to defy the law in a way he could not do if he were registered in this country. The result of it all is that by this Bill, and the Orders in Council that spring from it, there will be rapid registration of all the cars of the respective countries with the respective advantage to the owners. It is for the convenience of everybody, and will remove disabilities from our motorists going abroad and from foreigners coming here.
§ Mr. MOOREI quite sympathise with what the right hon. Gentleman has said. The right hon. Gentleman referred to the inequalities between foreign countries and this country, but we have inequalities at home. You have a car tax in Great Britain, and if a man comes over from Ireland for shooting in Scotland and brings his car he has to pay a new tax.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member cannot go into that. This Bill is carrying out an international Convention.
§ Mr. MOOREI do not want to be unreasonable, and I only desire to bring the matter to the notice of the right hon. Gentleman. This Bill applies to arrangements between this country and countries on the Continent and the community of nations. It is hard that because a man brings a car from Ireland to Scotland that he should be subject to a new carriage tax. If the right hon. Gentleman would see that when a man comes over for the shooting to Scotland from Ireland that he should not suddenly be held up for a fresh tax——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis really is rot relevant to the Bill. The object of the Bill is to carry out a Convention between this country and foreign countries. The hon. Member should have brought up this matter on an Amendment to the Budget.
§ Bill committed to a Committee of the whole House for to-morrow (Friday).—[Mr. Joseph Pease.]