Delegated Driving Examiners

HC Deb 10 June 1997 vol 295 cc410-1W

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many checks have been undertaken by his Department on delegated driving examiners; and which organisations have been allocated delegated examiners. [2644]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Delegated driving test examiners have been authorised for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), 26 Police Forces and 53 Fire Brigades, the Royal Mail, Birmingham City Council and 50 bus company groups.

Delegated examiners are normally trained by the Driving Standards Agency, the part of the Department responsible for conducting driving tests generally. The Agency aims to carry out standards supervision visits to the bus companies on a quarterly basis, and has close technical co-operation with the Ministry of Defence on test standards matters. The Agency is currently initiating discussions with the relevant police and fire authorities about test standards issues.