HL Deb 25 May 1994 vol 555 cc760-1

3.1 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they propose to take to prevent the obtaining of a driving licence by paying an impersonator to take the required driving test.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, candidates are normally required to present their provisional driving licence as proof of their identity before being allowed to take a driving test. This system will be further strengthened by the introduction of photographs on driving licences planned from July 1996.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that welcome reply. Has he seen the press reports that one driver had failed the test 25 times before paying a corrupt driving school to impersonate him? The police comment that the court cases are the tip of an iceberg. Are the Government concerned about the numbers of failed unqualified drivers who are on the roads as a result?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the Government are aware of the recent well-publicised cases which involve organised crime. We are always concerned about the dangerous possibility of impersonation of driving test candidates. However, it is important to note that there were only nine convictions in the past 12 months against 1.7 million driving tests.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, in addition to imper-sonators obtaining driving licences, there is a growing practice of MOT certificates being issued to failed vehicles which were not intended for those vehicles but for others. Will the Minister at least consider that proposition and, when he has time, examine it?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, the noble Lord raises an important issue which is being addressed by the department, but that is a different question from that on the Order Paper.

Lord Teviot

My Lords, while it is a good idea that photographs should be introduced by 1997, will my noble friend consider, if he has not already done so, whether a birth certificate should be produced by applicants for a driving licence? Would not that be a good idea?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I take note of the suggestion put forward by my noble friend. The candidate has the alternative of presenting a passport or an employer's identity card at the time of the test.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that when I see a piece of atrocious driving —which I am afraid now happens all too often—I realise that it could well be one of the people who has fraudulently obtained a driving licence?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, if my noble friend is unfortunate enough to witness an example of less than perfect driving it is more likely to be the result of factors other than deception during the driving test.