§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport why the international driving licence is required to contain a photograph of the holder; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerIt is a requirement of the international conventions under which international driving permits (IDPs) are issued that they should incorporate a photograph of the holder. The validity of an IDP is limited to 12 months, so difficulties associated with out of date photographs do not generally arise.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer of 24 April to the hon. Member for Leicester, East, he will list the practical considerations which militate against the inclusion in driving licences of further personal details, such as place of birth; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI shall answer this question shortly.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the number of people whose driving licence has been withdrawn and who subsequently apply for a new licence from the driver and vehicle licensing centre under an assumed name, in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerNone.
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§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has for each of the last five years as to the number of driving licences which were (a) lost, (b) stolen and (c) withdrawn for any reason and as to the number of new licences issued within each of the categories for which new licence may be issued.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI have no information about the number of licences(a) lost, (b) stolen or (c) withdrawn for other than medical reasons. In 1984 and 1985, respectively, 5,445 and 6,065 licences were withdrawn for medical reasons.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April in respect of replacement and duplicate licence. In addition, the following numbers of "exchange" licences were issued:
Number 1985 992,589 1984 939,603 1983 *529,100 1982 156,127 1981 114,376 * Change in criterion for "exchange" licence during this year—drivers who pass test and claim a full licence regarded as "exchange" applicants from 1983.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to which European Economic Community countries require a driving licence to include a photograph of the holder; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAll except Great Britain, British Forces Germany and the Republic of Ireland. Omission of a photograph is permitted under annex I of Council directive 80/1263.