§ 36. Mr. Joelasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, owing to the discontinuance of the driving test, holders of provisional licences are having to pay 5s. for a further provisional driving licence every three months; and whether he can make some other arrangements so as to relieve this class of driver from this additional expense?
§ 29. Mr. R. Morganasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the discontent that exists among holders of provisional driving licences owing to the suspension of the official driving tests; and whether, in view of the considerable unemployment that prevails at the present time among people of over military age, many of whom are expert drivers, he will consider the reintroduction of these driving tests at an early date?
§ Captain WallaceYes, Sir. The transfer of the driving examiner staff to urgent war duties inevitably caused inconvenience to many people who were thereby prevented from taking the driving test. I am glad to say that the progress made with the road transport emergency organisation will now enable me to release some of the examiners for their ordinary work. Applications for driving tests will be accepted in the regional offices on or after 1st December, and I am making arrangements for resumption of the official driving test as from 1st January next.
Vice-Admiral TaylorIs it the case that the R.A.C. have volunteered to provide the personnel necessary for carrying out 702 these tests; and will my right hon. and gallant Friend make use of that offer, which has been made in order to facilitate these driving tests?
§ Captain WallaceNo, Sir. Grateful as I am to the organisations in question, I think it essential that the test should be carried out by my own trained examiners.