§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North, has over a short period of time supplied to the responsible authorities details of thousands of unlicensed vehicles, some having been unlicensed for years, some having been reported on more than six occasions and that replies have been received that it is impossible to enforce action due to shortage of enforcement staff; and whether she will seek to establish an enforcement staff for this purpose.
§ Mr. SwinglerWe are aware that my hon. Friend has been diligent in reporting apparently unlicensed vehicles to the Greater London Council. All these reports are investigated by the Council and where offences are established, legal proceedings or other recovery action is taken as appropriate. I understand that, apart from reports which duplicated those received by the Council from other sources, duty had in fact been paid on about half of the vehicles reported by my hon. Friend.
The Council has a full complement of enforcement staff and although this is kept under rievew there is no justification for an increase at present.