§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received with regard to the 69W Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards report "Tackling Abuses in the Motor Trade" of October 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyMy right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from hon. Members. The then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Corporate and Consumer Affairs and I discussed many of the issues covered in this report with the Director General of Fair Trading, motor trade representatives and others on 15 December 1987. We agreed the desirability of amending section 60 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 to make it easier for trading standards officers to deal with sellers of unroadworthy vehicles. The LACOTS is considering our suggestions about the possible extension of trading standards officers' powers to inspect cars on garage forecourts. DVLC officials are contributing to Office of Fair Trading investigations into action against "clocking" of used cars.