Parking and Traffic Offences

6 October 2010: Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the regulations regarding enforcement procedures for traffic and parking offences so as to make them effective for cars with foreign number plates. during the course of the question ....... Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, nobody would wish to catch the Minister out, but I am sure that he is aware of the statement made by his noble friend, who is sitting next to him, the noble Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford, on 28 June this year, which said that the outstanding fines incurred by the diplomatic missions in London in respect of the London congestion charge had reached £36 million by January this year, with the United States, Russia and Japan being by far the worst offenders. Can he give an assurance that it is the view of the present Government, as it was of their predecessor, that the congestion charge should be paid by diplomatic missions in London? and later....... Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, the answer is in his noble friend's Answer of 28 June: Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates. [Laughter] In the following Question Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the most recent Bank of England economic forecast. Lord Barnett: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, and I think I might prefer my noble friend to answer it. [Laughter] Read Hansard report

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