§ 23. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the Post Office about delays in the handling of mail dispatched by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in Swansea; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoramThe Director of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre wrote 39W to the Director of Postal Operations on 24th May. Since then there has been a series of meetings directed towards minimising delays. I shall do all I can to ensure a speedy and satisfactory outcome.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport what inquiries have been made to ascertain the present whereabouts of an application for a full driving licence renewal sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea on 17th January 1977 by Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport why Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm Shrewsbury, who applied for a driving licence on 17th January for which a fee of £5 was banked by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea on 28th January has not yet received her licence.
§ Mr. HoramBecause Mrs. Mills' application was mishandled: the application form became detached from the postal order.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to locate a postal order No. 5323 564317 for £5 sent by Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea on 17th January.
§ Mr. HoramMrs. Mills contacted the Post Office following a request from the Centre that she should do so.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport on what date postal order No. 5323 564317 sent by Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea was put into the Driver Vehicle Motor Tax account, Bank of England, London.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why on 19th May a letter was sent by the Driver 40W and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea to Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, to tell her that postal order No. 5323 564317 had not been received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre.
(2) why a letter sent to Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea to say that her postal order No. 5323 564317 in payment of a driver's licence fee had not been received when, in fact, this order had already been banked by it.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport why no receipt was sent to Mrs. F. M. Mills of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea to acknowledge receipt of postal order No. 5323 564317 sent to it on 17th January.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport why receipt of sums of money is not acknowledged by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is a maximum length of time which he has laid down as being reasonable for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre to acknowledge the receipt of money sent to it through the post.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport why there are insufficient telephone facilities available to enable persons who have been waiting for licences for a considerable time to contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he takes to ensure that no proceedings are taken against persons who drive without a licence for periods of up to six months as a result of the inefficiency of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.
§ Mr. HoramProsecution is a matter for the police and the courts, who clearly use their discretion in cases like that of Mrs. Mills.
§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why no acknowledgement has been sent to Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, of a letter sent by her to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea on 20th June;
(2) when Mrs. F. M. Mills, of 9 Garmston Road, Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury, can expect an acknowledgement of a letter sent by her to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea on 20th June.
§ Mr. HoramThe Centre has no trace of a letter of 20th June, but on 8th July Mrs. Mills was sent a certificate of entitlement to drive and a note of apology for delay, which could be regarded as an acknowledgement of her application and a response to her letter of 25th June.