§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable he has for introducing legislation on the impounding of unlicensed heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [40306]
§ Mr. NorrisThe option of seeking powers for traffic commissioners to order the seizure and impounding and, where necessary, disposal of unlicensed illegally operated heavy goods and passenger vehicles is currently being examined by my Department as part of an assessment of the scale of illegal operations and effective measures for dealing with it.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many times the illegal operations working group has met; what its recommendations are; and if he will make a statement; [40307]
(2) if he will place a copy of the reports of the illegal operations working group in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [40308]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department of Transport's illegal operations working group has met twice and sometimes three times each year since it was established in August 1989. The group monitors the current approach in directing enforcement against illegal operations working within the constraints of existing powers and resources. Its report for 1994–95 described the main aspects of enforcement action directed against illegal HGV operators in 1994. A copy of its report has been placed in the Library of the House.