Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to support victims of car registration cloning; and what resources are available to victims to help them to resolve issues relating to that cloning.
Answered by Karl McCartney
The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must, by law, be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). It is a legal requirement for number plate suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied.
The DVLA visits number plate suppliers to monitor compliance with the legal requirements and works closely with the police and trading standards to share intelligence and support investigations and prosecutions of suppliers who do not comply.
Anyone who suspects that their number plate has been cloned should report this to the police, who are responsible for on road enforcement. Any fines or correspondence received for offences which have not been committed should be returned to the issuing authorities for investigation. Vehicle keepers can also write to the DVLA, who can issue a new registration number for a vehicle where necessary.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate e-scooters in the same ways as other road vehicles, including through the use of (1) speed limits, (2) number plates, and (3) mandatory insurance.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is the intention of the Government that the Transport Bill will create a new low-speed zero emission vehicle category that is distinct from the existing cycle and motor vehicle categories. New powers in the Bill would allow the Government to decide which vehicles will fall into this category and make regulations to ensure that they are safe to use and safe for pedestrians and other road users.
The Government plans to use these powers to legalise e-scooter use, with robust technical requirements and clear expectations of users. We are currently considering options for e-scooter regulations, including such things as the requirements for users to hold a driving licence or to register and insure the vehicle, and various technical specifications for vehicles including maximum speed limits.
No decisions have been made, and we will consult before they come into force so that, all interested parties have a chance to shape the new regime.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to prevent vehicle cloning.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department for Transport understands how distressing this criminal activity can be for innocent motorists. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with the police, motor trade, vehicle data checking companies and the vehicle security industry to help combat the problem of vehicle cloning. Advice for consumers is provided on the GOV.UK website. A step-by-step guide is also available that gives a list of things to look out for to ensure that the identity of the vehicle is correct. In most cases, the DVLA only becomes aware of incidents of vehicle cloning after the crime has been committed. However, when notified, the DVLA will investigate and pass on intelligence to the police who are responsible for investigating this criminal matter.
When the DVLA is notified of a suspected cloned vehicle case, officials will investigate and where appropriate, take action to record the correct identity of the vehicle in question. The DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement registration number to anyone who has been a victim of vehicle cloning.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department takes to help protect the victims of vehicle cloning.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department for Transport understands how distressing this criminal activity can be for innocent motorists. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) works closely with the police, motor trade, vehicle data checking companies and the vehicle security industry to help combat the problem of vehicle cloning. Advice for consumers is provided on the GOV.UK website. A step-by-step guide is also available that gives a list of things to look out for to ensure that the identity of the vehicle is correct. In most cases, the DVLA only becomes aware of incidents of vehicle cloning after the crime has been committed. However, when notified, the DVLA will investigate and pass on intelligence to the police who are responsible for investigating this criminal matter.
When the DVLA is notified of a suspected cloned vehicle case, officials will investigate and where appropriate, take action to record the correct identity of the vehicle in question. The DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement registration number to anyone who has been a victim of vehicle cloning.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the instances of number plate cloning.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied.
The DVLA visits number plate suppliers to monitor compliance with the legal requirements and works closely with the police and trading standards to share intelligence and support investigations and prosecutions of suppliers who do not comply.
Anyone who suspects that their number plate has been cloned should report this to the police, who are responsible for on road enforcement. Any fines or correspondence received for offences which have not been committed should be returned to the issuing authorities for investigation. Vehicle keepers can also write to the DVLA, who will consider issuing a new registration number for a vehicle if it is believed that a number plate has been cloned.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to counter the practice of vehicle number plate cloning.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The law requires that anyone supplying number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied.
The DVLA visits number plate suppliers to monitor compliance with the legal requirements and works closely with the police and trading standards to share intelligence and support investigations and prosecutions of suppliers who do not comply.
Anyone who suspects that their number plate has been cloned should report this to the police, who are responsible for on road enforcement. Any fines or correspondence received for offences which have not been committed should be returned to the issuing authorities for investigation. Vehicle keepers can also write to the DVLA, who may issue a new registration number for a vehicle if there is evidence that a number plate has been cloned.
Asked by: Paul Maynard (Conservative - Blackpool North and Cleveleys)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what exemptions exist for historic and classic vehicles with regard to the use of GB national identifier badges mounted on plates integral to a car's chassis when driving overseas.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The UK is party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic which requires every motor vehicle in international traffic to display the distinguishing sign, also known as the national identifier, of the State in which it is registered. Since 28 September 2021, the national identifier for vehicles registered in the United Kingdom has been the letters UK. The Convention does not make provision for exemptions to this. Owners of historic and classic vehicles who do not wish to change the appearance of their vehicle may prefer to display removable magnetic ‘UK’ identifiers for use when driving overseas.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will raise with her Moroccan counterpart the matter of Morocco requiring MINURSO to use Moroccan vehicle number plates in occupied Western Sahara in contravention of the status of mission agreement.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are closely monitoring the situation in Western Sahara. We have regular discussions with the parties and remain in close contact with MINURSO. The UK fully supports the UN's efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Asked by: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require registration plates on all (1) bicycles, and (2) adult-sized electric scooters
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has no plans to introduce a mandatory registration scheme for cycle ownership. The costs of doing so would outweigh the benefits, and this would deter many people from cycling particularly if cyclists (including children) had to cover the costs of such a system. There would be many practical difficulties too: registration plates would need to be large enough to be seen by cameras and other road users, and there is not generally enough space on bikes to allow for this.
The Department is running trials of rental e-scooters to assess their safety and wider impacts. Trials e-scooters are required to carry a unique identifier that will aid with enforcement. Privately-owned e-scooters remain illegal during trials. We are carefully considering all future requirements for legal use of e-scooters.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) preventive measures and (b) sanctions are in place to ensure that e-scooters are used only within the law; what safety criteria must be met before e-scooters are judged fit for use; what data have been analysed in his Department on casualties resulting from the use of e-scooters on (i) roads and (ii) pavements in other countries; how and by whom the success or failure of UK experimental use of e-scooters is being assessed; and if he will list the (A) advantages and (B) disadvantages his Department has assessed will result from permitting the widespread use of e-scooters in the UK.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
In the UK, e-scooters are treated like any other motor vehicle under the Road Traffic Act 1988. However, as the law was not drafted with e-scooters in mind, it is not possible for an e-scooter user to comply with the legal requirements for motor vehicles, such as having appropriate insurance, driving licences, number plates, and helmets.
It is, therefore, illegal to use an e-scooter on a public road without it complying with these legal requirements. It is also illegal to use an e-scooter, not approved for use in trials, in spaces which are set aside for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders. This includes on the pavement and in cycle lanes.
A range of offences may apply, including those relating to speeding and dangerous driving, drink and drug driving, as well as insurance and licensing. Users can be fined up to £300, have 6 points put on their driving licence, and the e-scooter can be impounded.
In 2020, the government permitted trials of rental e-scooters by introducing legislation for trials. To be eligible, local authorities and operators had to show how they would use controls such as geo-fencing, parking restrictions and driver licence checks. The Department for Transport provided guidance to e-scooter operators and local authorities which can be found on GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators
With regard to safety criteria that must be met before rental scheme e-scooters are judged fit for use as part of e-scooter trials, the Department established a set of vehicle design and construction standards and approvals requirements. These are also outlined in guidance to e-scooter operators and local authorities on GOV.UK.
The Department is continuously reviewing a variety of evidence on e-scooter related casualties from other countries. For example, the International Transport Forum (ITF) collated evidence on e-scooter fatality rates from various sources in its 2020 study on ‘Safe Micromobility’.
To assess the experimental use of e-scooters, the Department has in place a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme managed by our evaluation contractor, Arup. We will be publishing reports in autumn 2021 and spring 2022.