§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what powers are available to(a) the DVLA and (b) local authorities to remove abandoned vehicles on the public highway; [84980]
(2) what plans he has to review the powers and procedures exercised by (a) the DVLA and (b) local authorities for the removal of abandoned vehicles from the public highway;[84981]
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost of the removal of abandoned vehicles from the public highway by (i) local authorities and (ii) the DVLA in each year since 1995–96; [84978]
(4) what procedures exist within his Department for the monitoring of the number of abandoned vehicles on the public highway collected by (i) local authorities and (ii) the DVLA. [84979]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe DVLA has no powers to remove abandoned vehicles on the public highway. Local authorities have powers, under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to remove such vehicles. The Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986 prescribes the procedure that should be followed by local authorities. There are no plans at present to review these powers and procedures.
167WThere is no requirement for local authorities to provide information on the costs of removing vehicles. My Department does not monitor the number of abandoned vehicles collected from the public highway by local authorities.