§ 31. Mr. KilfedderTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the waiting times for cars to be tested at vehicle testing centres; whether he will urgently recruit more staff to cut the waiting time for a test; if he will delay the introduction of MOT test every five years until the waiting period has been brought into line with that which exists in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe waiting times for private car tests at each of the vehicle inspection and driving test centres in Northern Ireland at 4 November 1988 were as follows:
Weeks Armagh 6½ Ballymena 3½ Belfast 12 Coleraine 2½ Cookstown 9½ Craigavon 9½ Downpatrick 8½ Enniskillen 6½ Larne 5 Lisburn 7 Londonderry 4 Mallusk 6 Newry 9½ Newtownards 9½ Omagh 4 Steps are being taken to recruit more staff, but I am unable to delay the testing of five-year-old private cars which has been a statutory requirement since November 1987.