§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the percentage of failures in car driving tests in(a) 1996 and (b) 1997; and in what proportion a reason for failure was that driving was too slow. [23508]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe percentage of failures in car driving tests in 1996 was 56 per cent. Figures for 1997 are available only from the period January to June because of problems with the computer system collating test data at the Driving Standards Agency. During that period the failure rate was 53 per cent. The Agency hopes to have rectified the problems relating to the IT systems in the near future.
Statistics showing what proportion of failures was caused by driving too slow are not currently available. The Agency is developing management information systems that will allow comprehensive analyses to be undertaken of faults committed by candidates. It is hoped that this facility will be operational from early next month.