§ 11.16 a.m.
§ Lord AucklandMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have in mind for obligatory training for driving instructors on the lines of the training for driving examiners.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)None, my Lords.
§ Lord AucklandMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that commendably brief Answer. I declare a non-financial interest as an honorary vice-president of RoSPA. Is my noble friend aware that the first encounter which young drivers have with a motor vehicle is with a driving instructor? Is my noble friend satisfied, in view of the now enormous increase in the number of driving instructors, that there are sufficient safety standards, that the vehicles are adquately maintained and that the standard of instruction is such as to maintain adequate road safety?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, driving instructors have to pass a very stiff three-part examination which comprises a written exam, a practical test of the candidate's own driving skill, and one of his own instruction ability. How the candidate actually reaches the required standard we believe is up to him or her, but we think that the standard is sufficiently high at the moment. However, we shall always keep this matter under review.
§ Lord Brougham and VauxMy Lords, can my noble friend tell the House how we know who is an approved driving instuctor?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, the department keeps a list of approved driving instructors, and indeed 581 such a person will be able to identify himself with the appropriate certificate. The House will be pleased to know that Section 1 of the Road Traffic (Driving Instruction) Act 1984 will come into force at the end of September, and that will require all approved driving instructors or trainee licence holders to display their certificate of registration in the tuition car.