§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what84W assessment he has made of the trend in the number of abandoned vehicles over the last two years; and if he will make a statement; [86865]
(2) what plans he has to help local authorities deal with an increase in abandoned vehicles resulting from the fall in the price of scrap metal. [86866]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMy Department does not monitor the number of abandoned vehicles collected from the public highway by local authorities. There is no requirement for local authorities or the police to provide the Secretary of State with information in respect of the abandoned vehicles which they have dealt with.
The number of abandoned vehicles was not an issue raised with this Department by the Local Government Association during discussions on the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), which provided substantial additional provision for local authorities over the three year period covered by the CSR.