§ 27. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Transport what number of the 263 examiners chosen for motor tests came from Lancashire; and can he say if other appointments will be made?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe appointments of driving examiners have been made solely on merit and not on the basis of allotting a proportion of posts to candidates from particular localities. The information which the hon. Member desires could only be obtained by a special examination of the particulars submitted by all the persons appointed. I am not in a position to say at present whether an increase in the number of 263 will be required.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the hon. Gentleman a ware that there is a feeling of unrest about the appointments and that it would clear up the matter if he would issue a statement showing where they have been chosen from? I am not doubting that it has been done properly, but many people who have put in for this job complain that they have never had an interview, and they do not know who has been appointed.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI will certainly give my hon. Friend any information that he may desire.
§ Mr. LEWIS JONESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there were 33,752 candidates in the country?
§ 28. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Transport how many of the 34,000 applicants for the 263 posts as examiners were unemployed when making their applications?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe application form contained the usual question as to present or last employment, but the answers did not indicate in every case whether an applicant was in employment at the time of application. It would now be impracticable to obtain the information.
§ 34. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Minister of Transport whether previous driving experience or holding of a driving licence in a British Dominion or Colony will enable future applicants for a motor driving licence to obtain such licence without passing the new official driving test?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIt is proposed that an applicant for a licence shall not be required to pass a driving test if he satisfies the licensing authority that he is not resident in Great Britain and holds a valid international driving permit or a driving licence issued to him by the competent authority of the country in which he resides.
§ Mr. SIMMONDSWill this apply where there are not driving tests in the country concerned?