HL Deb 13 December 1978 vol 397 cc707-8WA
The Earl of SELKIRK

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is any reason for the current situation under which a British driver's licence is accepted as authority to obtain a French driver's licence and a French driver's licence is not accepted in the United Kingdom as authority for granting a British driver's licence.

Baroness STEDMAN

Qualifying standards for driving licences—and especially driving test standards—vary widely from country to country. Our standards are certainly among the highest and the holder of a foreign driving licence may be someone who would not enjoy the same full entitlement in this country. Our law therefore provides that to earn a particular United Kingdom entitlement everyone must satisfy our conditions and pass our driving test. Laws in some other countries, including France, do not have the same effect.