Driving Tests

HC Deb 23 March 1960 vol 620 cc482-3

32. Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Minister of Transport how much time, on average, he estimates the applicants for driving tests, who would under the previous arrangements be tested at Turriff, will require to expend travelling to and from Aberdeen to be tested there; and how much time, on average, he estimates that his examiners will save by not having to travel to and from Turriff.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. John Hay)

The sample analysis shows that the average additional distance travelled to an alternative centre by certain applicants who would, under existing arrangements, be tested at Turriff would be about 8½ miles; this represents a normal travelling time by car of about twenty minutes. The time at present spent by examiners in travelling to and from Turriff is about one-and-a-half hours, which represents the loss of two driving tests on each occasion.

I am looking closely into this whole subject and shall write fully to my hon. Friend in response to his letter of 25th February.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is a matter of considerable concern in the area not only on the part of those who will be seriously inconvenienced by the alternative arrangements that they may have to make, but also because it is symptomatic of the general gradual dehumanisation of these distant country areas for the benefit of centralised administration?

Mr. Hay

I will certainly bear in mind those points in considering this matter. One must take into account that we are short of testers but we are not short of applicants, and there has to be some kind of proportion kept between the demands on the time of our examiners and the time of the public generally.

33. Mr. Hendry

asked the Minister of Transport how much time, on average, he estimates that applicants for driving tests, who would under the previous arrangements be tested at Inverurie, will require to expend travelling to and from Aberdeen to be tested there; and how much time, on average, he estimates that his examiners will save by not having to travel to and from Inverurie.

Mr. Hay

A sample analysis shows that the average additional distance travelled to an alternative centre by certain applicants who would under existing arrangements be tested at Inverurie would be about eight miles; this might represent a normal travelling time by car of about twenty minutes. The time at present spent by examiners in travelling to and from Inverurie is about one-and-a-half hours, which represents the loss of two driving tests on each occasion.

Mr. Hendry

Does my hon. Friend realise that in many cases a person undergoing a test has got to travel by rural bus and may on occasion have to spend a whole day in getting to and from Aberdeen to submit for the test? In many cases this amounts to nearly six and a half hours. Does my hon. Friend consider that inconvenience of citizens to this extent for the purpose apparently of effecting a small saving for his examiners is justified?

Mr. Hay

I am afraid that the answer is very similar to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. WolrigeGordon). These are difficult matters. I am looking into this question very thoroughly and I will communicate with both my hon. Friends as soon as I can.

Mr. Hendry

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall attempt to raise the matter on the Adjournment.