§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving tests have been cancelled due to 48W bad weather conditions since December 1978; and if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show how the test cancellations are distributed on a regional basis.
§ Mr. HoramThe numbers of L tests so cancelled during the first two weeks in January were as follows:
Traffic Area Northern 2,659 Yorkshire 3,495 North-Western 4,974 West Midland 3,375 East Midland 3,444 Eastern 1,906 South Wales 810 Western 1,884 South-Eastern 2,332 Metropolitan 7,852 Scottish 3,254 Total 35,985
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the actual cost of holding a driving test falls on public funds and if he will publish details of the financial costs involved.
§ Mr. HoramThe full cost of L driving tests is recovered through fees for appointments. The financial costs related to these tests in the year ended 30 September 1978 were:—
£ '000 Salaries national insurance, super-annuation, accommodation, stationery and printing related to examiners 8,958 Overtime of examiners 39 Travelling and subsistence 495 Telephones and Telex 148 Booking of tests and other administrative costs 970 Miscellaneous 348 £10,958
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the number of cancellations of driving tests due to adverse weather conditions since December 1978 has had upon the length of time waited by driving test applicants before receiving their test: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoramThe unavoidable loss of tests due to adverse weather conditions during the first two weeks of January has had the effect of adding just over a week to the national average waiting time. 49W Appointments for candidates whose tests had to be postponed are being arranged as soon as possible.