§ Mr. Brittanasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will take steps to ensure that all motorists in Northern Ireland are required to carry documentation to prove that they are the authorised driver of a legally owned car;
(2) if he will introduce and implement a policy of impounding all vehicles that are found in Northern Ireland in circumstances giving reasonable grounds for the belief that they are either not taxed or insured.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesVehicles and motorists in Northern Ireland are already subject to special legislation and extensive checks by the security forces which are designed to frustrate and detect terrorists. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 12th January 1976—[Vol. 903, c. 29]—the Government are studying urgently a number of measures for the greater control of vehicle movement in the context of security on the border.
§ Mr. Brittanasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to enable members of the security forces in Northern Ireland who stop vehicles to check immediately by means of a computer system whether the registration number of the vehicle is the correct one, what the name and address of the owner of the vehicle is and whether it is suspected to have been stolen.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI shall reply to the hon. Member's Question as soon as possible.