HC Deb 22 June 1955 vol 542 cc1300-1
28. Captain Pilkington

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what plans he has for speeding up tests for would-be drivers.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Recruitment of additional examiners is being pressed forward. At the beginning of this month the Civil Service Commission announced that another thirty-one candidates had passed their competition for these posts. A further list of successful candidates is expected in a few weeks' time. The starting pay of examiners is being increased by about £45 a year, and this will, of course, apply also to new entrants from the next competition, which will shortly be advertised.

Captain Pilkington

How many people are waiting for these tests, and are the plans which my right hon. Friend has at present for widening roads and building new roads sufficient for the number of cars coming on to the roads?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not think the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question arises out of his Question. His first supplementary question related to the number of applicants awaiting tests. The nearest figure I can give him is about 135,000.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is that figure of 135,000 going up or is it going down; and how many of those 135,000 are in the London area?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman would put down the second part of his supplementary question. The answer to the first part is "Both, Sir"—that is, it would go up during the summer and down during the autumn.

29. Mr. Teeling

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why Mr. W. E. Barnaby, of 97, Greenfield Crescent, Brighton, who has been accepted for employment as a driving and traffic examiner under the Ministry of Transport is to be employed in Coventry when there is a similar vacancy in Hove; and why the vacancy in Hove is to be filled by a man being brought down from Manchester.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Because the post at Hove has since March been promised to the examiner stationed at Manchester, whose home is in Brighton. There were no vacancies at or near Hove which could have been offered to Mr. Barnaby when he was accepted for appointment earlier this month.