§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD GISBOROUGHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the decision to discontinue the date-stamping of vehicle registration books on the issue or renewal of licences.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, we are not aware of any circumstances which necessitate a review of the decision. The stamping of dates in registration books was discontinued because it served no particularly useful purpose and in certain circumstances was misleading. It therefore added unnecessarily to the work-load of already hard-pressed local taxation offices. The new centralised licensing system now being planned will make possible the issue of a reminder of the expiry of a licence shortly before the due date; this is impracticable now.
§ LORD GISBOROUGHMy Lords. I thank the noble Lord for his Answer, but will he not agree that an enormous amount of time is wasted in going round all the vehicles to see whether they are licensed, especially in the case of farm vehicles or a fleet of vehicles? Will he not also agree that it is quite possible even for individuals to let their licences run over, as was shown in the recent case of the magistrate who, having fined a miscreant£10 for having no licence, was promptly reported by that very miscreant for not having a licence on his own car?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the licence itself bears the expiry date in half-inch characters, and if that is displayed on the windscreen as is required by law it should act as its own reminder. When the centralised system comes into operation, then, as I have said, a reminder about the expiry will go from the central office. As to the owner of a fleet of cars, presumably such an owner can keep his own record in a simple diary for that purpose, which should suffice.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that, whatever the advantages that may accrue to the transport authorities, it is extremely inconvenient to individual people who own log books not to know whether or not their vehicles are taxed? Will the noble Lord be good enough to look at this matter again, because it is extremely inconvenient?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think the answer I gave to the previous question is really sufficient. The owner of a car has the expiry date in half-inch characters on the licence, and if he is dealing with more cars a simple diary should meet the point.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, will the noble Lord congratulate the previous Government on effecting this substantial saving in Civil Service manpower which he is now defending?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords.
VISCOUNT MASSEREENE ANDFERRARDMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether there has been any rise in the price of Guinness lately? Apparently, according to the Daily Telegraph a few days ago a motorist was convicted for displaying on his windscreen a Guinness stout label, which is the same shape and colour as the current licence. May I ask my noble friend whether he agrees that it would be disastrous if this custom became prevalent?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I do not think I need add anything more.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that it is inappropriate to have this advertisement for quasi-alcoholic beverages?
LORD GRAYMy Lords, can my noble friend say whether since the introduction of the current procedure there has been any significant increase in the number of persons re-registering their vehicles late?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, if I heard the noble Lord's question aright, he asked whether there has been any substantial increase in 1065 the number of vehicles licensed. Since the Government introduced this scheme, about 3 million more licences have been issued each year.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, can my noble friend explain how, as the licensing authorities require: the log book to be sent to them when a vehicle is reregistered, it can be any saving for them not to have to stamp it?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, a registration book is sent for action on it only on a change of ownership. It is not the same when only an annual licence is required.