§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the minimum and maximum penalties for each of the following offences, namely, having faulty tyres and steering, failing to declare that a vehicle has been on the public highway since the last licence was in operation and making a false declaration on this when applying for a road fund licence;
(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the minimum and maximum penalties for each of the following offences, namely, failure to have a current road fund licence, failure to exhibit a current road fund licence, failure to have a roadworthiness certificate for a vehicle when applicable, and failure to have an insurance certificate.
§ Mr. MarshThe maximum penalties are as follows
Using a vehicle with defective tyres or steering, £50 fine (£200 in the case of goods vehicles) and disqualification.Using a vehicle uninsured or unsecured against third party risks, £50 fine and 3 months imprisonment and disqualification.Using or keeping a vehicle on a public road without an excise licence being in force, £50 fine or five times the annual rate of duty whichever is the greater. An owner convicted of this offence is also required to pay arrears of duty.207WFalse declaration when applying for an excise licence, £50 fine or 6 months imprisonment.Failure to exhibit an excise licence, £20 fine.Using a vehicle without a test certificate, £50 fine.No minimum penalties are laid down, but a driver convicted of the first two offences is required to have his licence endorsed unless the court finds special reasons not to do so.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Transport why he will not introduce legislation to fix mandatory penalties, in the same way as for parking offences, for the offences of driving vehicles without a road fund licence, without roadworthy certificates, or with defective tyres and steering.
Mr. Bob BrownBecause the courts should be free to examine each case on its merits, and to deal with the offender in the light of all relevant circumstances. The fixed penalty for parking is of course an alternative to prosecution, and the driver remains free to go before the court if he chooses.
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON MOTORWAYS* AND OTHER MAJOR ROADS IN ENGLAND SINCE 1964–65 Financial Year Planned spending Actual spending Shortfall (-) or Excess (+) (£ million) (£ million) (£ million) per cent. 1964–65† Capital 129.0 127.4 -1.6 -1.2 Current 50.2 48.7 -1.5 -3.0 Total 179.2 176.1 -3.1 -1.7 1965–66 Capital 131.7 114.0 -17.7 -13.4 Current 50.2 47.0 -3.2 -6.4 Total 181.9 161.0 -20.9 -11.5 1966–67 Capital 146.0 135.5 -10.5 -7.2 Current 53.1 51.8 -1.3 -2.4 Total 199.1 187.3 -11.8 -5.9 1967–68 Capital 196.0 191.9 -4.1 -2.1 Current 24.8 25.9 +1.1 +4.4 Total 220.8 217.8 -3.0 -1.4 1968–69 Capital 231.3 208.7‡ -22.6‡ -9.8‡ Current 15.2 16.4‡ +1.2‡ +7.9‡ Total 246.5 225.1‡ -21.4‡ -8.7‡ * Trunk roads and principal roads (including new towns). † Including spending in Wales. ‡ Provisional outturn figures.