38. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1956, with regard to the period of holding provisional driving licences will be brought into force.
§ Mr. NugentSection 18 (1) of the Act will be brought into force as soon as we are satisfied that the increase which it seems likely to cause in the number of applications for a driving test will not unduly lengthen the period drivers have to wait for a test appointment. Section 18 (2), which increases the period of validity of a provisional licence to six months and its cost to 10s. 0d., came into force on 1st March this year.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill my hon. Friend try to bring it into force as soon as possible, because it is two years since we brought this Act in? The fact that a provisional licence can go on and on is causing disquiet in road-safety circles.
§ Mr. NugentYes, Sir, I appreciate that. My right hon. Friend and I are anxious to bring it into force as soon as we practicably can.