40.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the Secretary of State shall issue to every holder of a trade licence, as respects each licence held by him, a set of trade plates appropriate to the class of vehicles for which the licence is to be used.
(2) Each trade plate shall show the general registration mark assigned to the holder of the licence in respect of the licence, and one of the trade plates shall include a means whereby the licence may be fixed to it.
(3) Where the holder of a trade licence satisfies the Secretary of State that the vehicles which he will use by virtue of the licence include vehicles which would otherwise be liable to vehicle excise duty under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the 1994 Act (motorcycles) and other vehicles, the Secretary of State shall issue to the holder an additional trade plate in respect of the vehicles otherwise liable to vehicle excise duty under that paragraph.
(4) Where the licence is to be used only in respect of vehicles to which paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the 1994 Act applies (motorcycles), the Secretary of State shall issue only one trade plate to the holder of the licence and that plate shall include a means whereby the licence may be fixed to it.
(5) Each trade plate shall remain the property of the Secretary of State and shall be returned forthwith to the Secretary of State by the person to whom it was issued if that person ceases to be—
(a)the holder of the trade licence in respect of which the trade plate was issued; or
(b)a motor trader or a vehicle tester.