§ Ms. LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to legislate to ensure that all British car manufacturers provide in-built security systems to all models of motor cars.
§ Mr. JackManufacturers selling into the United Kingdom market are already obliged to comply with the Motor Vehicle (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1984 which, in turn, require them to meet certain minimum standards as regards preventing the unauthorised use of motor vehicles.
Work is in hand to update these requirements but new legislation on car security is dependant on reaching agreement within the European Community. Discussions are therefore taking place within Europe on vehicle alarm systems, door locks and improved steering locks. The Department of Transport is taking the lead in these discussions and has the full support of the Home Office. The requirements of any future European Commission directives on car security will form the basis of legislative proposals.
In the meantime, we are encouraging motor manufacturers to improve voluntarily the level of vehicle 410W security. Many manufacturers have responded positively, and many more new cars are now being fitted with security systems as standard equipment. We shall continue to press for further improvements in this area.