HC Deb 29 January 1980 vol 977 cc590-1W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Minister of Transport what is currently the average time in (a) Merseyside and (b) Ormskirk between the date of application for a driving test and the earliest offered appointment; and what steps he is proposing to take to reduce the length of wait.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The average waiting time for L-tests at Merseyside centres is 23½ weeks. This compares with a national average of 26½ weeks.

There is no test centre at Ormskirk; waiting times at the nearest centres are:

Southport 23 weeks
Liverpool—Bootle 25 weeks
—Crosby 23 weeks
—Garston 23 weeks
Wigan 23 weeks

My plans for reducing waiting times generally were contained in my right hon. Friend's reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 20 December last.—[Vol. 976, c. 397–98.]