§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on reducing car theft; and if he will make a statement.[R] [108384]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeWe have received 110 comments in response to the report of the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT) published in September 1999 setting out measures to achieve the Government's 30 per cent, vehicle crime reduction target. All but two of the comments referred specifically to the VCRAT proposal for the compulsory fitting of electronic immobilisers to seven to 10-year-old cars and most of these were opposed to the proposal. Two comments were received on the question of compulsory carriage of driving licenses (one for and one against). In addition, two of the comments covered wider issues including the role of the courts, motor projects, the insurance industry, crime and disorder partnerships, legislative protection of marks on vehicle component parts, retention of motor salvage, motorcycle theft and the possibility of reducing the rate of Value Added Tax on vehicle security products.