§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to amend the advance payments code under the Highways Act 1980 so that maintaining a building in contravention becomes a continuous offence until such time as the required deposit or acceptable security is made.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. At present the advance payments code provides for a fine not exceeding £100 for an initial contravention of its provisions and for each subsequent contravention. In my view it would not be right to make the maintenance of a building or of work done in it a continuing offence since maintenance may be necessary on safety grounds or for other good reasons.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will increase the fines for contravention of the advance payments code under the Highways Act 1980 in view of the fact that the cost of construction of estate roads has increased tenfold since it was set in 1959.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe present maximum fine dates from 1951 and I accept that it may need updating. We are reviewing the working of the advance payments code generally and have noted this as one of the points to be considered. If the hon. Member has some particular areas of concern relating to the code which he would care to write to me about more fully I shall be happy to look into them in the context of the consultations we shall be holding shortly with the local authority associations and other interested bodies.