§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that the present penalties for evading the payment of the road fund licence are such that it becomes a profitable proposition to evade payment; and whether she will introduce legislation to increase these penalties.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe penalty for unlicensed keeping or use of a motor vehicle is £20 or three times the annual duty chargeable, whichever is the greater. Courts have mitigating powers, but my right hon. Friend has no control over their exercise. She does not think there is any need to raise the statutory level, but she is considering whether other changes could be made to make penalties more effective.