§ 32. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, since the learner drivers of industrial vehicles have to be accompanied by a fully qualified driver, he will, when reintroducing driving tests, give suitable priority for the testing of the learner drivers of industrial vehicles.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. Drivers of industrial vehicles are not the only persons who could legitimately claim priority for their driving tests, and any priority system of this kind might lead to great inequality of treatment.
The requirement that a learner must be accompanied by a qualified driver is at present in suspense. I will consider most carefully the timing of its reintroduction.
§ Mr. JannerWould not the Minister agree that for this type of driver the matter is of extreme importance, in that it affects his livelihood? In the circumstances, would not the right hon. Gentleman say that he will give some kind of priority to these cases?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe reintroduction of the driving test is of great importance to a large number of people. I am not prepared to give priorities within the scheme. My object is to try to get it going again and to have as many people as possible tested.