Wheel Clamping (Hansard, 12 January 1995)

§ 12. Mr. Spellar
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made to bring forward proposals regarding wheel clamping.

§ Mr. Maclean
We are considering what action it might be appropriate to take. We will make an announcement when our proposals are ready.

§ Mr. Spellar
Does the Minister accept that that is a ludicrously inadequate answer? Does he recollect that the Home Office consultation on wheel clamping ended in May 1993? When will he do something about it and rid the country of the menace of the cowboy clampers?

§ Mr. Maclean
I also recollect that there was no clear consensus about what the future proposals should be. It is not good enough for the hon. Gentleman to accuse me of being late in bringing forward proposals when there is no agreement about what, if anything, should be done.

§ Mr. Alexander
Regardless of that, is not it a fact that there are far too many instances of extortion and placing people, particularly women, in fear as a result of the activities of these clampers? Surely we must take some action to give people greater reassurance should their cars be clamped by one of these cowboys.

§ Mr. Maclean
There is also a balance to be struck. We need to protect the legitimate interests of organisations such as hospitals and casualty departments which are sometimes affected by silly and indiscriminate parking. Of course, we must also protect the vulnerable and those who may be wrongly clamped but, as I said, I shall introduce proposals when I have come to firm conclusions on the right way ahead.