THE Government has denied that a decision on the future of registration plate changes will be announced within the next couple of weeks. The Retail Motor Industry Federation said it expected a decision to come within two weeks, but a Department of Transport spokesman said no date had yet been set. The RMI has, however, welcomed junior transport minister Glenda Jackson's comments in the House of Comments that an announcement will be made 'shortly'.

Alan Pulham, franchise dealers director of the Retail Motor Industry Federation, said: 'We have worked closely with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association to try to bring an end to this anachronism that is the bane of the motor trader's life. At last it seems we are making some headway.'

The RMI is confident that a twice yearly plate change, every March and September, will be adopted. 'The peaks and troughs that the current system creates cause enormous difficulties for everybody and the RMI feels certain that last Friday's August 1 registration day will be the last,' said Pulham.