HC Deb 19 June 1997 vol 296 cc280-1W
Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he intends to take in respect of advertisements for car clocking doctors; and if he will make a statement. [3837]

Ms Glenda Jackson

It is illegal under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 knowingly to sell a vehicle with a falsified mileage, but there is no offence of "clocking" and it is not presently illegal to advertise a mileage correction service. Equally, it is not illegal to tamper with an odometer and there may be legitimate reasons for wanting to do so. Tampering might be an offence if, on evidence, it is found that such an action assisted in the commissioning of an offence.