§ Lord Nugent of Guildfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement about the introduction of two-part motorcycle driving tests, with reference to the adequacy of qualified driving examiners, and the date of termination of provisonal driving licences for motorcycles.
§ The Earl of AvonThe regulations prescribing the two-part motorcycle driving test have been made and are about to be laid before both Houses of Parliament. They provide for the introduction of the new testing arrangements on 29th March 1982. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport proposes to consult later in the spring on regulations prescribing a two-year limited provisional driving licence entitlement for motorcyclists to come into operation on 1st October 1982.
The Department of Transport has received over 100 applications from training bodies to conduct Part I of the new test at some 500 sites throughout the country; training of their examiners is in hand. The department's own examiners will also conduct Part I of the test at more than 70 heavy goods vehicle driving test centres.
The department's recruitment of driving examiners has brought down the average national waiting periods at L-test centres (where Part II of the test will be conducted) to 12 weeks, and 8 weeks outside the Metropolitan Traffic Area. These waiting periods should continue to fall.
My right honourable friend is satisfied that this provision of test centres and examiners will not mean unacceptable delays for motorcyclists wanting to take their tests.