HC Deb 22 November 1990 vol 181 cc170-1W
Mr. Bill Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants are currently employed(a) full time and (b) part time by his Department on civil defence; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties were in 1989–90; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties are expected to be in 1990–91; and whether he has any plans for these staff to be transferred to work on other duties.

Mr. Freeman

The information required is as follows:

Mr. Chope

Sites for use for basic training have been approved at Kirkwall in Orkney, and at Lerwick in Shetland. I expect the operators of both these sites to be offering basic training courses from 1 December. Under the regulations, all residents of the islands surrounding the mainlands of Orkney and Shetland are exempt from the requirement to undergo an approved basic training course before riding on the road unaccompanied. They are also exempt from the need to produce a certificate of completion of an approved training course in order to take an "L" test with the Driving Standards Agency. This follows the precedent of the exemptions for the existing part I motor cycle test which basic training will supersede.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that there is adequate provision for the compulsory basic training of learner motor cyclists living in remote rural areas.

Mr. Chope

Since July my officials have been working closely with motor cycle training organisations, retailers, road safety officers and ACPO in a joint action group to ensure that the whole of Great Britain is well covered by training sites, and training organisations. I expect almost the whole of Great Britain to be within 30 miles of a site operated by an approved training body. I welcome the fact that in the Highland region, the regional council has let a contract for the supply of training at 11 sites that might not be commercially viable.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider the introduction of a fixed period exemption for learner motor cyclists through the issue of a provisional licence for the duration of the training period to those living in remote areas not served by public transport.

Mr. Chope

Compulsory basic training is designed to improve the safety of all new learner motor cycle and moped riders on our roads. There is no road safety benefit in allowing some riders to avoid the training that others are required to take and after consultation I am satisfied that there will be adequate coverage of facilities except in the smaller islands where a total exemption applies.