§ Sir E. HUME-WILLIAMSasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the notice sent to a car owner on registration of the car contains the statement that identification marks are assigned to motor vehicles and not to the owners thereof, but that, nevertheless, the police are in the habit of summoning the purchaser of a second-hand car if he omits to procure a transfer of the registration to his own name; under the authority of what Act of Parliament such summonses are issued; and whether he will consider the propriety of including in the notice sent to the person who originally registers the car a statement to the effect that if the car is sold the registration must be either transferred into the name of the new owner or a fresh registration effected?
§ Mr. NEALI have been asked to answer this question. I am not aware that the notice of registration contains the statement referred to, though such statement is correct in the sense that the identification mark can only be used for the particular ear registered. Under Article 4 of the Motor Car (Registration and Licensing) Order, 1903, if notice of change of ownership of the car is not given to the Registration Authority the registration becomes void, and any person driving it is guilty of an offence under Section 1 (4) of the Motor Car Act, 1903. Under the new licensing and registration proposals which will come into force on the 1st January, 1921, fresh regulations on this subject will be issued which, 623W I hope, will be free from ambiguity, and I therefore see no reason to take any action.