§ 8. Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the action taken by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the insurance industry to reduce levels of car theft.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the insurance industry have played an active part in the preparation of British standards for vehicle security and for anti-theft alarms. They have also taken steps to increase public awareness of the opportunities for preventing car theft and the insurance industry has established a central register of total loss claims. It is encouraging that, in 1988, theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles fell by 6 per cent.
§ Mr. PawseyI thank my hon. Friend for that complete reply. The 6 per cent. fall in crime will be welcomed by motorists throughout the country. Can my hon. Friend say what further measures might be taken to reduce crime? Does he think that if motor manufacturers improved the locking on vehicles, it would reduce crime?
§ Mr. PattenWe have some good new British standards on car security. I agree entirely with my hon. Friend that motor manufacturers can do more. Some manufacturers such as the Rover group and Vauxhall are already doing a great deal. Also, the British insurance industry should strain every sinew to try to introduce new forms of discount to promote car security. It is through such measures that we will produce the admirable results we have seen in Warwickshire—to name a county at random —in the past year where car crime has fallen by about 4 per cent. and theft from cars has fallen by 25 per cent.
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettIs the Minister aware that some of the devices fitted to cars cause crime rather than prevent it? Is he aware that I have heard many complaints from people who have had a car noise device go off close to their home and who, having gone out to check that the car was not being stolen, have been extremely annoyed to find that it is not possible to turn the device off?
Such people often have their sleep or their day time greatly disturbed by those devices. What steps are being taken to ensure that the car noise devices turn themselves off after giving a proper warning?
§ Mr. PattenIf the car alarms have been properly fitted and conform to the excellent new British standards that we are trying to promote throughout Europe—thanks to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport—the problems, which, as the hon. Gentleman said can be a considerable nuisance to local residents, can be obviated. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Will Government Members please desist from holding private conversations?