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Road Safety Bill [Lords]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that clarification. Finally, I come to mobile phone offences and clause 26. Although once again the civil libertarians might say that the current law, which prevents drivers from using a mobile phone—at the moment, there is only a fixed penalty—and clause 26 are some sort of infringement of civil liberties, I have found among my own voters that that is not what concerns people. People are concerned that the law is already flagrantly flaunted and rarely enforced. Outside this Palace earlier this week, I watched a van driver turn off Westminster bridge and left into Millbank, stopping at the traffic lights in front of police officers and speaking on his mobile phone as he went. Of course, I welcome the measures in the clause, and I believe that people who use their phone irresponsibly while driving should have their licences endorsed. If that ultimately means disqualification, so be it, as that is their choice. However, the clause will only be as effective as the current law unless police officers do some serious enforcement. That is the only thing that will prevent people from using their mobile phones while they are driving. While it is obvious that people who use their mobile phones while driving are not being prosecuted or challenged, there is very little inducement for law-abiding motorists to fork out the money to have a hands-free kit installed in their car. That is what the Government should be encouraging people to do, and it will happen only once people who refuse to do it are held to account. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the debate and hope that I have remained largely consensual, because I welcome the vast majority of the Bill. The Whip is present in the Chamber, and I am sure that he has noted my willingness to serve in Standing Committee—I will be massively disappointed if my plea goes unheard.