§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will detail the steps which his Department intends to take to protect the public from the fraudulent practice of clocking motor vehicles.
§ Mr. Forth[holding answer 20 July 1989]: The fraudulent alteration of a car odometer is already an offence against the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both. The Act is enforced by local trading standards officers. I have no plans to introduce new legislation in this area.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will estimate the extent of the illegal turning-back of car odometers by vendors of second-hand cars.
§ Mr. Forth[holding answer 20 July 1989]: I do not have the information on which to base such an estimate. However, during 1988 there were 383 successful prosecutions by local trading standards departments relating to false mileage recordings on motor cars.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will summarise his Department's inquiries into the possible production and potential cost of tamper-proof odometers to prevent fraudulent mileages being recorded; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Forth[holding answer 20 July 1989]: My Department has made no such inquiries, although we have encouraged the motor industry to develop a British standard specification for tamper-resistant odometers.