HC Deb 21 January 1971 vol 809 cc1264-5
26. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce the necessary legislation to give him the authority to relieve the Departments concerned of the time and costs involved in prosecutions for the offences of not having the necessary vehicle documents, by enabling him to instruct the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to impound vehicles which do not show the current road fund licence, and to ensure that these vehicles are not released from the pound until the production of all relevant documents and licences and a set impoundage fee.

Mr. Sharples

No, Sir.

Mr. Lewis

Is the Minister aware that there are some 20 per cent. of vehicles left on the roads without road fund licences, roadworthiness certificates or certificates of insurance? Since the police move away properly licensed vehicles because they wait for a few moments on a yellow band, would my suggestion not be a good way of ensuring that we get safety on the road and helping to ease congestion? Surely if the police took away one-fifth of the vehicles which are not licensed it would help to free the roads.

Mr. Sharples

The right to impound a vehicle which does not bear a road licence is a matter for the Secretary of State for the Environment, but I doubt whether Parliament would be agreeable to vehicles being towed away and impounded for this offence.