§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present waiting time for driving tests in(a) Greater Manchester and (b) London; how many examiners have been moved on a temporary basis from Manchester to London; and for what reasons. [27958]
§ Mr. NorrisThe average waiting time for a car test in Greater Manchester is currently 12 weeks. In Greater London, it is 16 weeks. During the period from 1 January to 28 June, 10 examiners have been, or are to be, transferred temporarily from Manchester to London for a total of 64 man weeks. The Driving Standards Agency regularly monitors waiting times to ensure that they do not vary radically between major conurbations in Great52W Britain. For example, if all examiners currently attached to London returned to their home centres, it is estimated that the waiting time in the capital would rise to 20 weeks.