§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will raise the penalty for illegal use of bus lanes. [16839]
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Review Consultation Expected completion date Joint review with Northern Ireland Office to consider permanent United Kingdom wide counter terrorism legislation Consultation document to be published early 1998 Autumn 1998 Review of the law relating to bribery and corruption. "Prevention of Corruption— Consolidation and Amendment of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1889–1916: A Government Statement"—issued June 1997 Discussion paper: "Clarification of the Law relating to Bribery of an MP"—issued December 1996 Early 1998 Strategic Review of National Police Training No formal consultation paper Early 1998 Inter-Departmental Review of Police Pensions Consultation document still to be issued To be decided Review of Firefighters' Pension Scheme Consultation document still to be issued To be decided Review of Community Fire Safety Consultation document on the strategy proposed in the report of the Community Fire Safety Task Force published November 1997 To be decided Review of Prison Nursing Services Consultation document issued 21 October 1997 February 1998 Review of long-term future of organisation of Prison Service Health Care Joint Prison Service/Department of Health Working Group. Consultation document not yet issued Mid 1998 Review of Prison Service Drug Strategy No consultation document issued March 1998 Review of Prisons Investigations Strategy No consultation document issued First stage completion April 1998 Review of the operation of release of prisoners on temporary licence No consultation document issued, but consultation with Police/Probation Service and other interested parties to be carried out by the end of 1997 Mid 1998 Review of Government proposals on reform of Youth Justice System Three consultation papers: "Tackling Youth Crime"—September 1997, "New National and Local Focus on Youth Crime"— October 1997 "Tackling Delays in Youth Justice System"—October 1997 Results of review to be reflected in Crime and Disorder Bill Review of measures to deal with anti-social behaviour Consultation document on community safety orders published 9 September 1997 Results of review to be reflected in Crime and Disorder Bill
§ Mr. MichaelIllegal use of a bus lane is an offence under section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and carries a maximum fine of £1,000. An offence can be dealt with under the fixed penalty procedure, in which case the penalty is currently £20.
We have no plans to increase the maximum penalty which may be imposed by the courts, but we are reviewing the current level of the fixed penalty.