HC Deb 18 March 1969 vol 780 c86W
Mr. Doig

asked the Minister of Transport why approved driving instructors who have passed his Department's practical and written examination have to repeat the process at four-yearly intervals; if he is aware that a minor mistake made in the examination can cause such an instructor to lose his employment; and if he will review the system.

Mr. Marsh

Instructors on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors do not have to take the qualifying examinations every four years. What they are required to do, from time to time, is to undergo a test of their continued ability and fitness to give instruction.

While the standard of the qualifying examination and the test of continued ability is necessarily high, a minor mistake, of itself, would certainly not result in failure to qualify for registration or the removal of an instructor's name from the register.

The system, which is constantly under review, is working well.

Mr. Doig

asked the Minister of Transport if he will direct that the personal details of applicants for driving tests should be obtained from the applicant by the official examiner, so as to avoid the necessity for the driving instructor to complete Form ADI 30.

Mr. Marsh

No. The information which instructors provide at present on Form ADI 30 relates to all their pupils, not only to those they take to driving tests centres. Furthermore this information is most accurately and easily obtained from instructors' records which they keep as a normal practice.