CHERISHED PLATES RULE CHANGE PROP0SAL FIRST READING A SUCCESS 

Proposals to change the rules surrounding cherished number plates sales had a successful first reading in Parliament yesterday (Wednesday 20 July 2005), according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation. 

The Vehicle Registration Marks Bill passed its First Reading in the House of Commons. A date for the Second Reading has been set for Friday 11 November 2005.

Mark Hendrick MP for Preston tabled the motion under the 10 minute rule to amend the current legislation so that the assignment rights of a cherished number could be transferred directly to the new keeper at the time of initial retention. 

During the debate, Hendrick said: ‘The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Cherished Number Dealers Association are strongly in favour of the proposed changes.’  

He continued: ‘There have been several cases of organised criminal activity aimed at acquiring valuable numbers by illegal means. I propose the introduction of an option for third parties to be granted entitlement as soon as the number is placed on hold under the retention facility. The bill would aid the industry involved in buying, selling, and transferring registration marks with no additional costs to Government.

‘It would amend the Vehicles Excise Registration Act 1994 to simplify the administrative process for selling cherished registration numbers and would be warmly welcomed by many customers, as well as cherished number dealers.
Justin Tidmarsh, head of the RMI’s Cherished Number Plates Dealers Association commented:  ‘The motion was well received and the issue was laid firmly in front of Government, who would benefit from the additional volume of transfer fees, which the trade would certainly produce. We look forward to the Second Reading in November with interest.’

The 10 minute rule system enables backbench MPs in the House of Commons to raise issues that might otherwise be overlooked