§ Mr. John Pageasked the Minister of Transport (1) what is the average delay in driving test appointments for first tests and second tests throughout the United Kingdom, in the Greater London area and in the Harrow area, respectively;
(2) what steps he is taking to make arrangements for driving test appointments to be handled more expeditiously.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe average waiting times for an L-test in Great Britain, the Metropolitan traffic area, and the Harrow area are about 26 weeks, 37 weeks and 40 weeks respectively. It is not possible to distinguish between applications for first and second tests.
My right hon. Friend's plans for reducing waiting times generally were contained in his reply to my hon. Frend, the Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 20 December 1979. My right hon. Friend is aware of the exceptionally long delays in the London area, and this is one of the places where he is concentrating his recruitment drive for more examiners.