§ Mr. HindTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will widen the choice of personalised car registration numbers open to the motorist by putting unissued numbers on to the market.
§ Mr. ChannonI would like to be able to offer for sale a choice of the attractive registration numbers not currently in circulation. This would, I think, be a welcome addition to the existing arrangements for the private transfer and sale of numbers. As a first step I am today issuing a public consultation paper which sets out and invites comments on proposals for a scheme for selling numbers. In the light of the responses to it we shall decide whether, and if so how, to proceed with such a scheme, for which legislation would he required. I am placing copies of the consultation paper in the Library of the House.