§ Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a publicity campaign to make the public aware of the steps which the Government have taken to relax the rules which apply to provisional driving licence holders and applicants in the circumstances of the Civil Service dispute.
§ Mr. Fowler[pursuant to his reply, 22 June 1981, c. 54]: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend that we should give maximum publicity to our proposed measures to help those unable to obtain driving licences because of the present industrial dispute at Swansea. Those most seriously affected are first-time applicants for provisional driving licences, who are not permitted to drive until they receive a licence. I announced on 10 June that I was tabling a new clause to the Transport Bill to provide me with regulation-making powers to bring these first-time applicants into line with those who have already held a licence. Existing licence holders can already continue to drive for a year once they have sent in their renewal applications provided they are not medically unfit or disqualified. I intend to make regulations under the new clause to help first-time applicants as soon as possible after the Transport Bill receives Royal Assent, which should be by the end of July, and I will ensure that the new provisions receive the widest possible publicity. I also know my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already drawn the proposed provision to the attention of chief officers of police.