HC Deb 14 April 1980 vol 982 cc472-3W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number of times that the police in the London borough of Newham have been asked to take action against owners of road vehicles without road fund licences; and how many reports they have made on their own initiative.

Mr. Britian

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is not available. In 1978 there were 18,842 prosecutions brought in the Metropolitan Police district for failure to pay motor vehicle excise duty.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the successful pilot scheme initiated by the Nottinghamshire police on road tax evaders recently, due to which the Warwickshire police are he will request the Commissioner of Police to introduce a similar check; and whether he will request the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to hold such a campaign in the Metropolitan Police area.

Mr. Brittan

The final results of the recent campaign conducted in Nottinghamshire by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, with the assistance of the police, are not yet available, but I understand that the preliminary results are very encouraging. Until this pilot campaign and the forthcoming campaign in Warwickshire have been evaluated there are no plans to include other areas.