HC Deb 29 July 1963 vol 682 cc24-5W
Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the continuous expansion of the motor car industry, why the number of successful students for the National Craftsman's Certificate for Motor Vehicle Service Mechanics has decreased each year since 1960.

Sir E. Boyle

This examination consists of a theoretical examination followed by practical tests. The numbers of candidates for the theoretical examination have risen as follows:

1953
Entries … … … 1,857
Passes … … … 886
1962
Entries … … … 3,901
Passes … … … 2,349

The number of candidates going forward for the practical tests has risen from 571 in 1953 (498 passes) to 1,537 in 1963 (results not yet known).

Students who are successful in the theoretical examination do not necessarily choose to take the practical tests, so that the number of certificates awarded in any year is dependent on the number passing the theoretical test and the number choosing to take and passing the practical test. The figure of certificates awarded in 1960 resulted from an exceptionally high proportion of passes in the February 1959 theoretical examination, combined with the high percentage of students successfully taking the practical tests.

There has been a considerable increase in the number of certificates awarded over the past 10 years.