§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on(a) the progress of the implementation of the second EC directive on driver licensing and (b) how the Driving Standards Agency intends to comply with the directive with regard to large goods vehicles. [14434]
§ Mr. NorrisWork on preparation of the regulations and the operational arrangements to implement the directive is in hand. Last November, the Driving Standards Agency wrote to some 600 interested parties announcing the detailed plans for implementing the directive with regard to driving tests for large goods vehicles, and I have arranged for a copy of that letter to be placed in the Library.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources he intends to make available to the Driving Standards Agency for compliance with the second EC directive on driver licensing by July 1996. [14437]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Driving Standards Agency is an on vote non-statutory trading body whose expenditure is fully recovered by the income it receives in fees and charges. Its resources are planned in accordance with expected levels of demand for tests within unit cost targets at agreed service levels. The agency's business plan for 1996–97 is in preparation and will be deposited in the House Libraries, when completed, in accordance with our usual practice.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many large goods vehicle driving tests were conducted by delegated examiners in each of the last three years; and what were the results of those tests; [14433]
(2) if he will list the number of delegated driving examiners employed on large goods vehicle tests by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the arrangements in place for the supervision of such examinations by the Driving Standards Agency. [14438]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Secretary of State for Transport has not appointed any delegated driving examiners to undertake large goods vehicle tests.