§ Mr. Heddle asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Emery) on 15 April 1981, Official Report, c. 194, if he will now initiate a national campaign on a systematic county by county basis to deter evaders of vehicle excise duty.
§ Mr. David Howell:The special campaigns referred to in the reply on 15 April are carried out in co-operation with individual chief officers of police to supplement the regular national enforcement of vehicle excise duty carried out in the course of their normal duties by police and traffic wardens. I agree with my hon. Friend that more should be undertaken and my Department is in regular discussion with chief officers about this. In addition to the areas mentioned on 15 April, there have already been further campaigns covering the Eastern counties—Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk—and special checks are being conducted at various locations in London by the Metropolitan Police this week. Campaigns in other areas are being planned.