HL Deb 23 March 1987 vol 486 cc5-7

2.47 p.m.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the provision of off-street driving areas for training new motor cyclists, and what steps they are planning to increase this provision.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, there are over 900 approved off-road sites throughout the country on which appointed motor cycle training bodies can provide training and conduct Part 1 of the motor cycle test. There is no shortage of facilities, and training groups seek approval for new sites as demand requires.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that encouraging Answer. Is he aware of the point, just made by the noble Lord, Lord Underhill, that the incidence of accidents on motor cycles is still terribly high—about eight times that of accidents in motor cars—and that fatalities and serious injuries are almost 24 times greater than fatalities and injuries in motor cars? Therefore, the need to make off-street training compulsory is urgent in order that youngsters may have a chance to learn how to ride motor cycles safely before going on the road. Can my noble friend say what the prospects are for making off-street training a compulsory part of training before a provisional licence is issued, as was contemplated six years ago?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I have already said in answer to the previous Question that the compulsory training of novice riders is being considered within the review.

Lord Gainford

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me where the sites are situated? Can schools he encouraged to use their grounds for such training and can expenses be provided for damage that might be incurred?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I cannot tell my noble friend where all 903 sites are situated, but we are satisfied that the number and location of sites gives good coverage over the whole country. As regards schools, there are certain requirements for the off-road sites intended for Part 1 of the test but they are not especially difficult to comply with. There is no particular requirement for other training sites.

Lord Brougham and Vaux

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the recent decision that RoSPA's training section for motor cyclists, although losing quite substantial sums of money, should be carried on for another year? Will the results of short course training by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory and BITER be made available?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, in answer to my noble friend's second question, I cannot give him a date. If I can find any further information, I shall certainly write to him. We very much appreciate the efforts made by RoSPA and all other training organisations to train riders throughout the country.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, we appreciate the work that is being carried out by RoSPA. Can the Minister say whether there has been a reduction in the number of motor cyclists taking the training compared with the old scheme which was run by the Royal Automobile Club?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, there has been a small reduction in the number of motor cyclists taking training. It is down from 51,200 in 1983 to 44,000 last year, but that is probably a smaller reduction than the reduction in the number of motor cycles. Those figures I gave the noble Lord during the previous Question.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that a good deal of expert knowledge is required to run these training schemes and that RoSPA is particularly well qualified to operate them? Is he aware that, if the Government were to provide more funds for RoSPA, it could extend this training and thus make it possible to introduce the compulsory qualification before riders got their provisional licence?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I cannot give any figures showing help which the Government give to RoSPA at the moment. I understand that the position is under review, but I shall certainly bear in mind my noble friend's remarks.