§ 1. Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what has been the average penalty for conviction for not having a road fund vehicle licence in the last 12 months.
§ The Minister for Transport Industries (Mr. John Peyton)In 1972 the average fine was just under £9. In addition, orders were made for the payment of, on average, just under £6 in arrears of duty.
§ Mr. MolloyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that correspondence that I have received from all parts of the country, particularly London, provides evidence suggesting that there is mass evasion of the paying of car licences, which irritates ordinary people? Will he consider holding a conference between the police authorities and the licensing authorities, as there does not seem to be any clear-cut method whereby those who evade paying their car licences can be apprehended? They do it for a variety of reasons, including not having an MOT test certificate, not having insurance—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have received representations that Question Time is 654 going much too slowly. We must have short supplementary questions.
§ Mr. PeytonI note what the hon. Gentleman said. Many of the matters that he raises are for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and I shall call his attention to them.