§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which traffic areas have the longest waiting times for motor cycle driving tests; and what is the delay in those areas;
(2) what is the average waiting time for a motor cycle driving test.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe wait for a driving test on a motor cycle is the same as that for other L-tests. I am glad to say that, as a result of the Government's policy of recruiting more driving examiners, waiting times are now greatly reduced. The average waiting period for an L-test in Great Britain is 11½ weeks. Outside the metropolitan traffic area, where the wait is longest, the average is eight weeks.
The average waiting periods in the individual traffic areas are as follows:
Traffic Area Average Waiting period as at 15 January 1982 weeks Metropolitan 19 Eastern 11½ East Midland 10 Scottish (North) 9 North Western 8 South Eastern 7½ Western 7½ Yorkshire 7 West Midland 6½ Scottish (South) 6 South Wales 5 Northern 3½