Written question asked by Julian Lewis (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 May 2001. It was answered by Ross Cranston (Labour) on Thursday, 10 May 2001 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Solicitor-General

Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what guidance he will give to the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of motorists displaying the Union Flag on car number plates.

Answer: Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance he will give to the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of motorists displaying the Union Flag on car number plates. [161033] The Solicitor-General: The size and character of car number plates (properly known as registration marks) and of the letters and numbers shown on them is governed by the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971 and the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. There is no provision which specifically prohibits the display of items, such as the Union Flag, on a registration mark. However, an offence is committed if a registration mark fixed on a vehicle is in any way obscured. This may be as a result of fixing another item to the registration mark or by simply allowing it to become so masked by dirt as to be no longer easily distinguishable. The offence can be dealt with only in a magistrates court and is punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. If the police refer evidence of such an offence to the Crown Prosecution Service, it will be reviewed in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings will then result.

Secondary information