Local Transport Bill updateItem Added 14 January 2008The SPARKS Programme sent a briefing to peers before the second reading of the Local Transport Bill in the House of Lords on 20 November 2007.
In the briefing SPARKS asked peers to endorse provisions allowing the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to receive vehicle keeper data from its foreign counterparts for the purpose of enforcement.
Concerns were raised in the briefing about implementation of the bill and the potential fee for supplying vehicle data. “We hope the new powers will be initiated promptly so that the DVLA and other European licensing agencies can develop and pilot data-sharing arrangements with each other,” said SPARKS programme manager Bill Blakemore.
“We are also concerned that a fee regime could deter local authorities from taking actions against foreign registered vehicles. This would undermine the aims of the new provision.”
The Local Transport Bill is nearing completion of its stages in the House of Lords and is due to have its Report Stage (or remaining stages) on 16 January 2008. This is the last chance for peers to discuss the bill before it enters the House of Commons, probably towards the end of February 2008.
To date clauses of particular interest to SPARKS have not been discussed in detail. The only matter of interest was an attempt by the shadow Conservative transport team to amend a subsection of Clause 112 allowing the Secretary of State to disclose information relating to foreign registered vehicles to a person who has reasonable cause for seeking disclosure.
The shadow team would like to stop the DVLA passing vehicle owner data to disreputable private car park operators who work outside the British Parking Association (BPA) code of conduct, and used the bill as an opportunity to raise the issue in the House of Lords.
Full text of SPARKS Programme Local Transport Bill briefing to peers |
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Facts & Figures- London's local authorities issue six million penalty charge notices a year
- 86% of penalty charge notices issued in London are for illegal parking
- 75% of penalties issued to UK-registered vehicles are paid within a fortnight
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