§ 52. Mr. H. A. Priceasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what pro portion of driving tests in the London area resulted in failures during the most recent 12 months for which figures are available; and how these compared with the preceding three comparable periods.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydFrom 1st March, 1953, to 27th February, 1954, the percentage of candidates failing the driving test in the Metropolitan traffic area was 4075. The figure for the corresponding period in 1952–53 was 39–82, for 1951–52 38–25, and for 1950–51 3704.
§ Mr. PriceDoes my right hon. Friend attach any significance to the fact that this percentage is going up year by year?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think the answer is that in this, as in other fields where there is a steep increase in the number of candidates, there is a falling off in the average standard.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the falling off in London is similar to the falling off in other parts of the country? Are London drivers, or would-be drivers, worse than provincial drivers?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI do not think so.
§ 53. Mr. H. A. Priceasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the delay at present, in the London area, between an application for a driving test and the test itself.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn the Metropolitan traffic area, about six weeks.
§ Mr. PriceIf I give my right hon. Friend details of a case in which a constituent was asked to wait three months, and who, upon protest, was penalised by having to wait an extra week, will my right hon. Friend take steps to investigate it?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydImmediately, Sir.