HC Deb 23 June 1998 vol 314 cc442-3W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to allow the police to retain a proportion of fines resulting from offences detected by cameras. [46528]

Mr. Michael

Hypothecating the revenue from fines resulting from road traffic offences detected by cameras would result in expenditure on traffic enforcement being determined by the income generated rather than the relative priority of the activity. We are examining the current funding arrangements for the cameras to see what more might be done.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the approvals process relating to the use of enforcement equipment for prosecutions in the United Kingdom. [46527]

Mr. Michael

Section 20 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 provides for the admissibility of evidence from prescribed devices for speeding and other road traffic offences. Section 20(4)(a) requires the prescribed device to be of a type approved by the Secretary of State.

The Government have no plans to amend or review the current legislation. The type approval process ensures that devices used to provide evidence for prosecutions in the courts are both accurate and reliable. The rigorous testing procedures necessary for the type approval process are kept under review.

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