§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been prosecuted for offences in connection with the registration of driving instructors under Sections 126 to 142 of the Road Traffic Act 1972; how many and what percentage of such prosecutions have resulted in convictions; and what penalties have been imposed.
§ Mr. HoramThe assembling of this information will take a little time. I will write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will now ensure that the necessary training courses for training instructors are made generally available;
(2) whether he will introduce legislation to seek to repeal the provisions for the licensing of trainee drivers;
(3) whether he will limit the charges made for driving instruction, where given by a trainee instructor;
(4) whether he has now received adequate comments as a result of his consultation paper sent out in January 1976, so as to enable him to take such steps as may be necessary to improve the present system of driving instruction.
§ Mr. HoramMy hon. Friend is no doubt concerned about the proposals related to the scheme for the licensing of trainee driving instructors included in the Department's consultation letter of 27th January 1976. My right hon. Friend received many useful comments and I announced his decisions in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wigan (Mr. Fitch) on 3rd February 1977—[Official Report, 3rd February, c. 325–6.] My right hon. Friend still intends to propose the repeal of those licensing provisions when there is a suitable legislative opportunity. This repeal would have the effect of prohibiting charges for car driving instruction by trainees; legislation to limit such 500W charges would therefore be unnecessary The provision of off-the-job training courses for trainee instructors is a matter for the profession.