HC Deb 06 April 2001 vol 366 cc358-9W
Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to strengthen the powers of the police and local authorities to deal with illegally abandoned cars. [157257]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The Local Government Association has set up a working group, in partnership with the police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, to look at the related problems of vehicle theft, vehicle excise duty evasion and abandoned vehicles. The Government will consider carefully any recommendations arising from the work of this group, including any proposals for additional powers to enable the police and local authorities deal more effectively with abandoned vehicles.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles removed by(a) the police and (b) local authorities have been declared a hazard in the past five years. [157389]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The information requested is not collected or held centrally.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicle-keepers have been prosecuted for illegally abandoning their vehicles in the past five years. [157388]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The information requested is not available centrally.

Abandoning a motor vehicle is an offence under section 2 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, but information contained in the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database does not distinguish between motor vehicles, anything which formed part of a motor vehicle or anything other than a motor vehicle being abandoned. Nor does it distinguish vehicle keepers from other persons.

Persons proceeded against for all offences under section 2 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 in England and Wales are as follows:

Year Number
1994 88
1995 98
1996 77
1997 78
1998 71
1999 108

Figures for 2000 are not yet available.