HC Deb 22 May 1968 vol 765 cc106-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the number of prosecutions which have taken place in the London area since the introduction of the penalty of five times the annual licence fee and all arrears of duty for persons evading the payment of the road fund licence; and what were the total fines paid.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

I do not have this information.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will instruct the Metropolitan Police to investigate and report on the many unlicensed vehicles in and around the area of Wightman Road, N.8, and the side streets at right angles thereto, and off Cheapside, Wood Green, N.22;

(2) whether he will instruct the Metropolitan Police to investigate and report on the many unlicensed vehicles in and around the area of Durham Road, N.7, Lennox Road, N., Yonge Park, N.5, and the roads and streets around the area of Finsbury Park Station.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

My right hon. Friend has no authority to issue such instructions.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is aware of the growing practice of motorists evading the payment of their road fund licences by using beer bottle labels and other self-made discs as a means of hiding the failure to have a licence; and whether he will instruct the Commissioner of Police to watch for this type of subterfuge.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

The police are aware of this mode of evasion and keep a look out for it.

Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken in the L Division of the Metropolitan Police with respect to cars parked for long periods on the public highways and which show either outdated road fund licences or none at all.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

The Metropolitan Police report apparently unlicensed vehicles to the licensing authorities concerned. During the first four months of this year, 1,641 apparently unlicensed vehicles in "L" Division, of which approximately 1,200 were stationary, were reported to the Greater London Council.

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