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Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]
Lord Selsdon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which designated regulators have which powers under the Acts set out in Schedules 6 and 7 to the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]. [HL1712]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Baroness Vadera): Detailed information about the existing powers of designated regulators in relation to the offences in Schedules 6 and 7 is not held centrally and may not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
Transport: Aluminium Ingots
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to change the means of transport of aluminium ingots from Anglesey to Austria from rail to transportation by an eastern European road haulier. [HL1877]
21 Feb 2008 : Column WA86
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The recent decision to transfer the transportation of aluminium ingots from rail to road was a commercial one taken by an Austrian customer who is responsible for the mode of transport from the Anglesey facility. Neither the Welsh Assembly Government nor the Department for Transport have been involved in the decision-making process.
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have assessed the carbon emissions that would result from transportation of aluminium ingots from Anglesey to Austria by road rather than rail. [HL1878]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: No such assessment has been undertaken.
Transport: Overseas Lorries
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many lorries registered overseas have been detected on British highways by (1) the police and (2) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, which were (a) overloaded; (b) in an unsatisfactory mechanical condition; and (c) driven in breach of drivers' hours regulations, within the past 12 months for which records are available; what penalties were imposed on those drivers found to be in breach of legislation; and how many of the penalties have been paid. [HL1880]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The relevant statistics relating to the department's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) are:
(a) Overloading prohibitions = 3,157
(b) Mechanical prohibitions = 6,568
(c) Drivers Hours prohibitions = 6,796
VOSA does not record the nationality of drivers. There were very few prosecutions for these specific offences because it is not possible—either for VOSA or the police—to require non-UK residents to return to the UK to attend court on such matters. The introduction of graduated fixed penalties and deposits will, however, ensure that they do pay the relevant penalty.
We do not have any statistics relating to enforcement action taken by the police. However, the police do have the power of arrest and use it to deal with serious offences.
The police force does not hold this information centrally. For the police force to gain this information would result in disproportionate cost.
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