§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have held with the Channel Islands and Gibraltar with regard to their plans to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 to introduce the recognition in Great Britain of driving disqualifications imposed in those places; and what undertakings have been given by the Channel Islands and Gibraltar reciprocal legislation for mutual recognition. [HL500]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonThe Crime (International Co-operation) Bill, which proposes measures to ratify the international convention on driving disqualifications, also proposes measures for the recognition by Great Britain of driving disqualifications imposed in the Channel Islands and Gibraltar as part of a package which also covers Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Her Majesty's Government propose that such recognition of disqualifications imposed in any one of these jurisdictions should occur only when that jurisdiction has put into practice recognition of driving disqualifications imposed in Great Britain. Only then will the relevant provisions in the Bill be commenced in relation to the relevant administration. Officials have been in touch with officials of the Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar administrations, all of whom have expressed themselves content in principle with arrangements on the lines proposed. No undertaking is required from the Jersey, Guernsey, or Gibraltar administrations to introduce reciprocal legislation. The Government will however encourage the Channel Islands and Gibraltar jurisdictions to consider doing so.