Clause 23 - Keeping of Records: Part II
Vehicles (Crime) Bill
6:45 pm

Mr John Bercow (Buckingham, Conservative)

I do not want to make a big fuss on this point, although I might be tempted to make a little fuss. Subsection (2) states:

In subsection (1) ``registered'' includes formerly registered.

Next to that I scribbled a little emendation—``odd.'' For that reason, I should be grateful for a brief explanation of that subsection.

Mr Keith Hill (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Streatham, Labour)

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that issue. Before I address that highly specific question, it might be worth my while to remind the Committee of the purpose of the clause.

Mr David Kidney (Stafford, Labour)

Is not the purpose of the expression that records will need to be kept for a number of years and people might cease to be registered when they are still under a duty to keep records?

Mr Keith Hill (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Streatham, Labour)

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. However, the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association has suggested that records should be kept for two years, during which they would be available to the enforcement authorities for inspection. I am delighted to be able to assist the hon. Member for Buckingham on that point.

Mr John Bercow (Buckingham, Conservative)

I am immensely grateful, and I enjoyed the experience of the Minister's response in such a way that I shall remember it for years.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 23 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

It being Seven o'clock, THE CHAIRMAN adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to Order of the Committee [this day].

Adjourned till Thursday 11 January at five minutes to Ten o'clock.