§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the average time elapsing between application for a driving test and the holding of the test in a number of different centres in different parts of Great Britain, and in particular in those in Lancashire.
§ Mr. PeytonThe information is as follows:
Traffic Area Average Waiting Period (in weeks) South Wales 4.7 East Midland 7.5 West Midland 8.8 Yorkshire 8.9 Eastern 9.6 North Western (includes Lancashire) 10.1 Scottish 10.1 Northern 10.2 Western 13.6 South Eastern 15.1 Metropolitan 15.3
§ Mr. Topeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many additional examiners are to be recruited for each driving test centre at Sutton, Wellington and Morden; and when it is anticipated that they will commence work.
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§ Mr. PeytonI am recruiting an additional examiner for each of the centres at Morden and Sutton and hope they will be in post during the next two months.
No extra staff are being posted to Wallington.
§ Mr. Topeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many examiners are employed at each of the driving test centres in the greater London area; and how many additional examiners it is intended to recruit within the next six months.
§ Mr. PeytonThe number of examiners at the ordinary "L" test centres are as follows:
Ordinary "L" Test Centre Examiners in post Barking … 5 Chingford … 3 East Ham … 4 Hornchurch … 6 Ilford … 4 Walthamstow … 3 Wanstead … 3 Palmers Green … 5 Tottenham … 5 Winchmore Hill … 5 Wood Green … 6 Barnet … 3 Burnt Oak … 5 Hendon … 3 Mill Hill … 3 Southgate … 3 Hayes … 3 Ruislip … 4 Wealdstone … 2 Greenford … 4 Isleworth … 4 Southall … 4 Morden … 6 New Maiden … 4 Surbiton … 5 Sutton … 4 Teddington … 5 Croydon … 5 Norwood … 3 Southfields … 4 Wallington … 7 West Wickham … 4 Belvedere … 1 Bexley Heath … 7 Lee Green … 6 ✶Orpington … 6 Sidcup … 6 Total 160 * Centre closed temporarily, examiners detached to adjacent centres. Over the next six months I expect to recruit about 50 additional examiners for these centres.
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§ Mr. Topeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting period at each of the driving test centres in the greater London area for applicants wishing to take a test on the next available date.
§ Mr. PeytonAverages in weeks are:
Barking 17; Chingford 14; East Ham 18; Hornchurch 17; Ilford 17; Wanstead 17; Walthamstow 16; Palmers Green 15; Tottenham 16; Winchmore Hill 13; Wood Green 14; Barnet 15; Burnt Oak 18; Hendon 16; Mill Hill 16; Southgate 16; Hayes 18; Ruislip 17; Wealdstone 15; Greenford 18; Isleworth 18; Southall 18; Morden 17; New Maiden 17; Surbiton 14; Sutton 13; Teddington 18; Croydon 14; Norwood 14; Southfields 17; Wallington 13; West Wickham 13; Belvedere 12; Bexleyhcath 14; Lee Green 13; Sidcup 12
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage pass record of those taking a driving test in Liverpool to the most recent convenient date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. PeytonIn 1972, 48 per cent. of tests were passed; figures for 1971 are no longer available.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applicants for the driving test failed the test on three or more occasions in Liverpool to the most recent convenient date; and how this figure compares with the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. PeytonI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drivers passed the driving test in Liverpool during the past year to the most recent convenient date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. Peyton11,570 passed in 1972. Figures for 1971 are no longer available.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many driving examiners are employed at test centres in the United Kingdom to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.
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§ Mr. PeytonThere were 1,012 driving examiners employed at ordinary "L" test centres in Great Britain at the end of March 1973. In addition, 147 were employed at heavy goods vehicle driver testing stations. The figures for March 1972 were 1,088 and 142 respectively.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drivers passed the driving test in the United Kingdom during the past 12 months to the most recent convenient date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. PeytonIn Great Britain, 720,872 in 1972; 742,230 in 1971.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the waiting period for driving tests in Liverpool, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange.
§ Mr. PeytonAs the demand for tests in 1972 was almost 20 per cent. greater than in 1971, waiting periods almost everywhere are longer than I would wish. Additional examiners are being recruited as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many examiners are employed at each of the driving test centres in Liverpool to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.
§ Mr. PeytonThe information is as follows:
Number of End of March 1972 Examiners End of March 1973 "L" Test Centres Bootle … 4 4 Crosby … 5 5 Childwall … 2 4 Garston … 3 2 Kirkdale … 5 (Centre closed February 1973) "HGV" Test Centre Simonswood … 3 3
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the average waiting 6W period at each of the driving test centres in Liverpool.
§ Mr. PeytonOn 16th March:
Bootle … … … 8 weeks Crosby … … … 8 weeks Childwall … … … 12 weeks Garston … … … 8 weeks
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applicants are due to take their driving tests in Liverpool to the next available date.
§ Mr. PeytonOn 28th March, 5,023 applicants were awaiting tests.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average period of waiting for a driving test in the United Kingdom to the most recent convenient date.
§ Mr. PeytonIn Great Britain, 12 weeks on 16th March.