§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is satisfied with the present working of the computer system at Swansea for the issue nationally of provisional driving licences; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) what is the current waiting period between an application by a member of the public for a provisional driving licence in the Ipswich area and its issue.
§ Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is aware that new drivers in the Ipswich area are having to wait several weeks for provisional driving licences; and how this compares with other parts of the country;
(2) what delays are generally being experienced by new drivers in obtaining provisional driving licences; and whether he will investigate the computer system at Swansea to ensure that these delays are eliminated at an early date.
§ Mr. PeytonThe Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre began operations on 1st March. I hope that once the new system is fully run in applications will be cleared within five days. This does not, of course, include time in the post. Unfortunately, industrial action is causing significant delays. New drivers who require a first provisional licence should80W therefore take advantage of the provision that allows them to apply up to two months in advance. I very much regret the inconvenience that the delays must cause.