§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that driving tests should not be held during the hours of darkness in any part of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. Ford, and I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. The agency's deputy chief executive, Mr. Lobo, will answer in Dr. Ford's absence on leave.
Letter from G. A. Lobo to Mr. Brian Wilson, dated 18 July 1994.
The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive to reply to the question you have raised about holding driving tests during the hours of darkness. I am replying since Dr. Ford is on annual leave.The Driving Standards Agency is considering whether it would be sensible to conduct fewer driving tests per day during the winter, when the daylight hours are shorter, subject to extra tests being added to the summer programme. This could have the advantage of switching staff resources to be more in line with the seasonal pattern of demand.