Road Safety Bill [HL]

I am sorry to intervene before my noble friend. Indeed, my noble kinsman was, or is, learned, but where one Lyell comes along I hope that it is not the second Lyell who is causing trouble. I recall a high-profile case four years ago where a motor vehicle that was owned, I presume, by a company or corporation was noted committing an offence. Representatives of the corporation, as the registered owner of the vehicle, came to the magistrates’ court, and for one reason or another said that they did not know who was driving. I am not too sure who would pick up the penalty points if the police said that the vehicle was involved in an offence—I think it was in breach of the speed limit. As I recall, that corporation could not pick up the penalty points, but there was a clear breach. Yet the registered owners—a corporation—escaped. There was no one responsible person who picked up the penalty points. I may be able to have a word with the noble Lord outside, because otherwise perhaps even in your Lordships’ House there is a law of libel. I recall that it was a high-profile case in the north-west of England. It was curious to me how an offence could be committed and the registered owners—being a corporation or corporate body—could say ““We do not know who was driving””, and no one was penalised. I can go and look it up.