§ 72. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Transport, whether he is aware that the present regulations concerning penalties for evasion of the payment of road fund licences on vehicles encourages these evasions, in that a person can use his vehicle for 12 months unlicensed, thus saving an annual duty of £17 10s., and if charged and found guilty pays a penalty of only the current quarter's licence fee; and whether he will seek to change this regulation, making the penalty at least twice the annual licence fee.
§ Mr. Tom FraserMy hon. Friend is mistaken. The Vehicle (Excise) Act, 1962 already prescribes a penalty of £20 or three times the anual duty chargeable, whichever is the greater. I see no reason for this to be increased.