Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the re-sale of illegal second-hand automobile tyres; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to improving road safety, and ensuring the ongoing compliance of vehicles with safety regulations is important to reducing collisions and casualties.

The sale of part worn tyres is regulated by the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994. Trading Standards has responsibility for enforcing these regulations and upon successful prosecution for failure to comply with the requirements, magistrates’ courts can impose penalties of up to 6-months imprisonment or an unlimited fine in England and Wales (or up to £5000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland).