§ 29. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many applicants now await driving tests in the London area; and what the corresponding figure was last year.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe figures are, 39,851 and 27,744, Sir. Over the same period the number of examiners in the area increased from 105 to 142.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs it not a lamentable state of affairs that the number of people awaiting tests appears to have increased by 50 per cent.? What is the Minister doing to reduce the additional traffic jam which he has created. Will he consider appointing part-time examiners to help reduce this growing list?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWhat I am doing is revealed in the last part of my original answer, increasing the number of examiners.
§ Captain PilkingtonIn view of the congestion on our roads, would it not be a good thing to slow down these tests?