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Crime and Security Bill (Ways and Means)

My hon. Friend emphasises the point. I have no doubt that when I have concluded my remarks—I have many points to make—the Minister will take the opportunity to explain herself and explain the Government's rather haphazard way of dealing with this matter, so that we can decide whether it is appropriate for the House to approve this motion today. Of course, Her Majesty's Opposition welcome the provisions in the Crime and Security Bill to license businesses that engage in vehicle immobilisation. This change to the law is, I believe, long overdue, and I have no doubt that this will come as good news to motorists up and down the land, who are heartily fed up with being stung by cowboy clampers who charge exorbitant sums of money to all our constituents when they unwittingly park on private land, not realising the extent to which they could be fined. This, of course, has financial implications for the Government, for local authorities and, most importantly, for the constituents we are elected to represent. The Minister will need to answer these points. I am sure that hon. Members from all parties will recall many examples of situations like this in their own constituencies. I certainly do. I have been contacted many times by constituents who have been clamped and fined huge sums of money. Their vehicles are immobilised and this can lead—