Off-Road Vehicles (Registration) Bill
9:30 am
Jim Fitzpatrick (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport; Poplar and Canning Town, Labour)
It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair this morning, Mr. Wilshire. Thank you for your kind offer to help those of us who have not served on a private Member’s Bill Committee through our proceedings.
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley for his kind words. We support his proposition that the Committee should adjourn. The Government entirely support the intention behind the Bill. We recognise that the misuse of off-road vehicles is a great problem in many constituencies. As well as being the source of considerable antisocial behaviour, some are so poorly constructed and maintained that it can endanger their riders. The distress of those who have suffered as a result of the misuse of such vehicles is fully appreciated, and we want to deal with the issue. I thank my hon. Friend for bringing the matter to the attention of the House.
On Second Reading, the Government suggested that an interdepartmental taskforce be created to identify solutions and, when necessary, to drive forward any missing powers. I reaffirm that commitment this morning. The taskforce would consist of the Department for Transport, the Home Office and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and it would consider transport, antisocial behaviour and product safety respectively, at national and European Union level. Other Departments, such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Communities and Local Government could be involved, looking at the use of open space. So, too, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport could consider the provision of sporting facilities.
The taskforce would undertake a root and branch review, considering all the issues, including the powers currently available, and identify whether further legislation might be required. Subject to its recommendations, the Government will implement solutions. We anticipate that the taskforce will convene in the autumn, with a view to producing an interim report by Easter 2008.
My hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley has devoted considerable time and effort to the matter. We would therefore welcome his participation in the work of the taskforce, the mechanics of which have yet to be determined. This statement commits the Government to setting up an interdepartmental review, and to recognising its conclusions. I therefore support my hon. Friend’s motion.