§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce legislation making it obligatory for motor car manufacturers to make car immobilisation devices standard features; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThere is a legal requirement under the Type Approval (Great Britain) Regulations 1984 for cars to be fitted with an immobilising device. This normally is a steering column lock acting as an electrical and a mechanical immobiliser. Car thieves have, however, found ways of defeating such devices made to current legal standards and some manufacturers are fitting more sophisticated devices. We are also working with our EC partners to improve the legal standards for immobilisers.