§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the amount of money lost to the Revenue in the case of the 76,667 convictions in 1969 for keeping unlicensed vehicles on the road; in how many of these 76,667 cases of convictions was the maximum penalty of five times the annual rate of duty plus the amount of back duty imposed; and what was the average penalty paid in these cases.
§ Mr. PeytonLoss of revenue does not arise on conviction for unlicensed use of a vehicle as the court is required to order payment of back duty claimed by the licensing authority. The number of cases in which the maximum penalty was imposed could not be ascertained without120W disproportionate time and effort. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that the average penalty was£7 11s. 6d.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the inability of the local authorities and the police to enforce the law regarding unlicensed road vehicles, he will seek powers to appoint officers from his own Department to carry out this task.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsAs I told the hon. Member today, local licensing authorities and the police are already active, within the limits of available manpower, in enforcing vehicle excise law.