Uncollected Financial Penalties

Debate between Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede and Lord Faulkner of Worcester

Tuesday 13th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab)]

I do not know the answer to that question. If the £5 billion is in the Government’s accounts, I do not know how free they are to use that money. If there is anything more I can add to that answer, I will write to the noble Lord.

[Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Lab)]

My Lords, when my noble friend writes to the noble Lord opposite about unpaid parking fines by embassies in London, would he also write to me and include in my letter the details of unpaid congestion charges by embassies in London? That is an amount that has escalated almost out of sight. As the noble Lord opposite has said, this is not a tax; it is a payment for services provided in London.

[Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab)]

Yes, if I am able to find those figures, I will indeed write to my noble friend.