HC Deb 05 December 1956 vol 561 cc1213-4
8. Mr. J. Harvey

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, pending the recommencement of official driving tests, he will take steps to authorise persons who have taken a prescribed course of lessons with a recognised driving school to drive unaccompanied in a car displaying an L plate.

13. Mr. Mulley

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, having regard to the hardship to persons who have acquired vehicles for business and professional purposes and who are now unable to qualify to drive them, if he will remove, in approved cases, during the period that driving tests are suspended, the requirement that a holder of a provisional licence must be accompanied by a qualified driver.

Mr. Watkinson

I have given careful thought to this matter and have decided that, for the time being, I should be justified in suspending the requirement that the holder of a provisional licence must be accompanied when driving by the holder of a substantive licence. The steps necessary to give effect to this decision will be taken as soon as possible.

Mr. Harvey

Is the Minister aware that his answer will give great satisfaction to those whose livelihood depends upon their being able to drive and to those who derive their livelihood from teaching others to drive?

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Whilst appreciating the difficulty which the Minister is trying to meet, may I ask whether there does not appear to be a certain element of danger to road safety here? Would it not be better to waive the requirement that a licensed driver should accompany a driver who has an L plate only after he has had that L plate licence for a certain period, perhaps three months, rather than that anybody should be able to get an L plate and a provisional licence and then drive immediately by himself, without having someone fully qualified to drive with him?

Mr. Watkinson

I will look at what the right hon. Gentleman has said. As a matter of fact, most L plate drivers will already have done three months on the road, but I do not think that this is other than a useful temporary measure, particularly to avoid hardship to those drivers who might otherwise be prejudiced in their jobs. Those are the people whom I am anxious to help.

Mr. P. Williams

Is it not the case that in the earlier times when there was rationing of petrol, motor driving schools were entitled to give certificates of competence? Would this not be a better way, thus avoiding the danger of giving unbridled opportunities to motorists to take out a licence and start straight away on their own?

Mr. Watkinson

That is quite a different question.