HC Deb 20 May 1968 vol 765 cc29-30W
Mr. Francis Noel-Baker

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken to detect whether or not vehicles abandoned on the public highway are road-worthy and comply with his Department's tests; and if he will introduce regulations to require all vehicles to display proof of road worthiness in order to facilitate rapid action by the police.

Mr. Bob Brown

Under the Civic Amenities Act, local authorities and the police must decide whether an abandoned vehicle is a "wreck" or a "runner" before removing it. We are not aware that this has caused difficulty. A test certificate, even if displayed, would relate to the condition of the vehicle only at the time of the test and it is unlikely that a certificate would be displayed by anyone commiting the offence of abandoning a vehicle.