To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the operation of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 in relation to the activities and charges of private clamping companies; and if he will make a statement. (118306)

I have been asked to reply.

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 provides for the Security Industry Authority to license individuals who carry out licensable vehicle immobilising activities as defined by the Act and to ensure that they comply with the licensing requirements. It does not provide for the regulation of fees or other commercial matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the regulation of private clamping companies operating on private land; and if he will make a statement. (118307)

I have been asked to reply.

In January 2004 the Home Office published a full Regulatory Impact Assessment entitled “Regulations to implement the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (the 2001 Act) in respect of Door Supervisors and Vehicle Immobilisers”. This publication is available on the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) website at:

http://www.the-sia.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2AE9A564-0443-4E47-AFCF-95BF8820A2B7/0/sia_ds_vi_ria.pdf.

This covered individual vehicle immobilisers operating on private land where wheel-clamping is not governed by the Road Traffic Acts 1988 and 1991, as this was the scope defined by the 2001 Act. Licensing for these vehicle immobilisers has been required since February 2005. The 2001 Act does not regulate companies or their trading practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the activities of private clamping companies; and if he will make a statement. (118308)

I have been asked to reply.

During the second half of 2006 the Home Office received about 50 items of ministerial correspondence and three written parliamentary questions about the regulation of vehicle immobilisers. These included correspondence accepted on behalf of the Department for Transport and the Department of Trade and Industry. Most correspondence related to business practices, such as signage and fees, that are not governed by the Private Security Industry Act 2001 or the Road and Traffic Acts.