Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2008

I thank the noble Lord for that intervention. I am delighted to hear it. He asked how many local authorities are taking up decriminalisation of parking enforcement. According to my advice, seven local authorities operate DPE in Wales. Local authorities with DPE will become CPE authorities on 31 March. Local authorities without DPE will need to apply to the Welsh Assembly Government to become CPE. The noble Lord asked what measures will encourage local authorities to do that. Successful implementation by the seven will encourage them, with other local authorities seeing a benefit to their communities. It is up to the local authorities to come to the Welsh Assembly Government if they so wish. The noble Lord asked also about cross-border level playing fields. My experience in Cardigan was that playing fields are not always very level—there are very different gradients. As the noble Lord, Lord Livsey, identified, there is a level playing field between Wales and England, though obviously not with regard to rugby at the moment. An important point was made about the joint appeals committee for England and Wales. Such a committee is very important. The noble Lord, Lord Livsey, asked about the level of charges. There will be two levels of charging, depending on the seriousness of the contravention: £40 plus £60, or £50 plus £70. I hope that that helps answer the noble Lord’s question. The noble Lord asked whether the Government felt that local authorities would be ready. This is obviously a matter for local authorities. They have known about these proposals since January 2007, because time for them to train staff and to ensure that road signs and markings are correct and ready for any changeover was needed. The noble Lord asked also about a reduction in clamping time from 60 to 30 minutes. I am advised that this was changed following wide public consultation. My noble friend Lord Jones asked about local authorities and who responded. I am afraid that I do not have sight of that information, so I shall follow up the matter with him. The noble Lord, Lord Livsey, asked about rural Wales. I share his frustration about the difficulties of travelling in rural Wales, but I stress that this is very much about local authorities serving their local communities as best they see fit. I hope that any changes in regulations will be proportionate. I hope that noble Lords will support the regulations. On Question, Motion agreed to.