HC Deb 14 June 1985 vol 80 cc581-2W
Sir John Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to reduce the waiting time that learner motor cyclists have to wait before being able to take their driving test.

Mrs. Chalker

My right hon. Friend is already doing so. Additional examiners have been recruited and trained to produce a net increase of 36 on a year ago. Substantially more are being recruited in order to reduce the waiting time for L tests, including part II of the test for motor cycles. The average wait for part I of the motor cycle test for the Department remains reasonable, but most learner riders take the part I test with the appointed organisation with which they also take their training.

Mr. Speed

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his Department's driving test centres in Kent, together with their establishment of examiners, actual current strengths of examiners, average waiting time for car and motor cycle driving tests for each centre, respectively, and the current national average waiting times for these categories.

Mrs. Chalker

The information requested is:

Waiting Period (Weeks)'at 24 May 1985
Waiting period (weeks) at 24 May 1985
Complement In post L tests motor cars & Pan II m/c Part I m/c tests
Southern Eastern TA
Ashford 4 2 24
Canterbury/Margate 6 6 17
Folkestone 4 4 14
Gillingham* 6 6 22
Gravesend* 4 4 17
Heme Bay 4 3 20
Maidstone 5 4 17
Tunbridge Wells 4 3 21
Canterbury HGV 1 1 13
Gillingham HGV 2 2 14
Metropolitan TA
Belvedere 6 6 31
Bexleyheath* 5 5 30
Sevenoaks 4 4 23
Sidcup 4 4 29
West Wickham* 7 7 30
* The numbers of staff in-post include 2 examiners on long term sick leave at Gillingham and 1 each at Gravesend, Bexleyheath and West Wickham.

The waiting periods nationally are 18 ½ weeks for L tests and 13 weeks for part I motor cycle tests.

I am filling the vacant posts by transfer of staff or recruitment of extra examiners as quickly as I can.