Written question asked by Candy Atherton (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 28 July 2000. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Friday, 28 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what regulations govern the clamping of vehicles; and who monitors local practice by those agents responsible for this. - Inc ref to various regulations and acts.

Answer: Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the clamping of vehicles; and who monitors local practice by those agents responsible for this. [133224] Mr. Hill: Under the Vehicle Excise Duty (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has powers to clamp road-going vehicles that are unlicensed and on a public road to enforce the payment of vehicle excise duty. Under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Road Traffic Act 1991, local authorities have powers to remove unlicensed vehicles abandoned on a public road or to clamp licensed vehicles which are unlawfully parked on a public road. In all these circumstances the operation of clamping is closely regulated, with a right of appeal and a maximum release fee specified by the Secretary of State. There are no statutory regulations governing the clamping of vehicles left on private land but my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has announced an intention to include such a provision in the proposed legislation on the private security industry, when parliamentary time allows.

Secondary information