THE Government has published its consultation document proposing changes to the August 1 registration plate system. The document was published early this week with the Department of Transport asking for comments by March 21, 1997. Full details of the proposed changes will be published as soon as possible.

It remains unclear as to when any change will come into effect as no timescale is given. Nevertheless, a DoT spokesman said he would not expect any decision to be made before the election and it is expected that the R-plate will come into use on August 1, 1997. And if the Labour Party wins the election it is likely it will have different priorities to that of a re-elected Conservative Party, which would carry on with its current proposals.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Retail Motor Industry Federation favours a quarterly plate change and among the possible alternatives are: an age-based system, based on geographical areas, a combination of age and area identifiers and a system with no age or area identifiers.