§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the results of his Department's public consultation exercise on proposals for the sale of registration numbers; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonThe consultation exercise on the sale of attractive registration numbers ended on 31 May, and most major consultees have now responded. Consultation papers were made widely available to the public and special interest groups: 210 responses were received from motoring organisations, motor traders and their representatives, historic vehicles clubs, police representatives and members of the public. Some 80 per cent, of the responses, including almost all of those received from trade and motoring interests, supported the idea of sale in principle. Some 3 per cent, contained objections. In the light of these responses and the general favourable public interest in the consultation exercise, I propose to continue to develop the proposals with a view to the necessary legislation being introduced in due course.
Many respondents, however, expressed reservations about the idea of selling previously issued numbers. This 252W has strengthened my view that the scheme should, initially at least, be restricted to unissued numbers—of which there are more than adequate supplies.