HL Deb 23 June 1965 vol 267 c503
LORD COLWYN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is true that drivers of battery-operated house-to-house milk and provisions vehicles can obtain a licence to drive an internal combustion engine on the roads without having first passed a driving test.]

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, anyone who passed the driving test before July 1, 1963, on certain types of electrically-propelled vehicles (excluding pedestrian-controlled vehicles) can obtain a driving licence which entitles him to drive motor cars, lorries, and so on. But after that date, under the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations, 1963, anyone passing the test on such electrically-propelled vehicles may drive, in addition, only mowing machines or pedestrian-controlled vehicles.

LORD COLWYN

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. But can people who have been granted a licence to drive such vehicles as Express Dairy vans still get a licence to drive a car without passing a separate test?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, this is a question of retrospective legislation. With great respect, I expect that many noble Lords in this House like myself have a driving licence and have never passed a test. That is because we established our right prior to the requirement of a test. Anyone who has established his right under existing legislation maintains it. Any person applying subsequent to the passing of new regulations has to conform to them.