§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average waiting period for a driving test in each of the test centres within the area of the west midlands county; and how these figures compare with the average for 1983, 1982, 1981 and the average waiting period for England and Wales.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe information is as follows:
481W
West Midlands Metropolitan County Driving test centre Waiting times (weeks) 11 January 1985 13 January 1984 14 January 1983 15 January 1982 16 January 1981 Birmingham (Quinton) 25 11 10 7 8 Birmingham (Kingstanding) 18 11 5 4 3 Birmingham (Washwood Heath) 20 14 6 13 5 Birmingham (King's Heath) 20 11 10 7 7 Birmingham (Sheldon) 20 16 10 9 15 Birmingham (Shirley) 8 6 3 2 6 Coventry (Mason Road) 9 14 3 6 11 Coventry (Holyhead Road) 21 8 3 3 5 Lower Gornal 24 20 7 7 14 Wolverhampton 15 22 5 5 16 Bilston 25 14 4 6 17 Bloxwich 32 9 10 9 13 Wednesbury 15 18 14 11 18 Sutton Coldfield 11 12 10 8 16 West Midland Traffic Area 15 10 6 6½ 10½ England and Wales *16 11 9½ 12 19½ * Estimated. More driving examiners are being recruited to reduce these generally excessive waiting periods. Examiners are also transferred temporarily between centres to help reduce the longest waits. The effects are already becoming apparent at a number of centres.