§ 8. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Transport if in the interests of promoting road safety, he will provide a grant to motor-cycle clubs to enable them to extend tuition to drivers of motor-cycles and scooters.
§ Mr. HayWe are already making a grant to the Royal Automobile Club of up to £3,000 a year towards the cost of administering the R.A.C./A.C.U. Scheme for training learner motor cyclists and scooter riders. We are at the moment considering proposals for the expansion of this scheme.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhile welcoming that reply, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is aware that these motor-cycle clubs, which in a quite voluntary way are doing this training, are finding it very difficult to meet their financial costs? In view of the recent statement by the Minister that twice as many motor-cycle accidents take place in the first six months of driving as in later years, may I ask whether, from the point of view of safety, the hon. Gentleman would consider a very generous contribution to those clubs which are training motorcyclists?
§ Mr. HayIf the hon. Member is suggesting that we should make a direct grant to individual clubs, apart from the R.A.C./A.C.U. Scheme to which I referred in my Answer, this would entail many difficulties. In any event, it is more convenient for us to make a grant, as we do now, to the central body which conducts this kind of training.