HC Deb 31 January 1996 vol 270 cc804-5W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the policy of the Driving Standards Agency concerning driving instructors with criminal convictions. [12414]

Mr. Norris

Under part V of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the registrar of approved driving instructors, who is responsible for the administration of the ADI register, has to be satisfied that an instructor is a "fit and proper person". Any instructor who is aggrieved by the registrar's decision to remove his name from the register can appeal to the Secretary of State, which appeal is heard by an independent appeal board. That strikes a reasonable balance between the rights of the individual and the protection of the learning public.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed deregulation of the Driving Standards Agency and its future monitoring of driving instructors. [12415]

Mr. Norris

There are no plans to deregulate the Driving Standards Agency and it will continue to be responsible for the statutory register of approved driving instructors and for the conduct of driving tests.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to ensure that persons convicted of offences of indecency are not permitted to work as driving instructors; and if he will make a statement. [12413]

Mr. Norris

Under part V of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the registrar of approved driving instructors, who is responsible for the administration of the ADI register, has to be satisfied that an instructor is a "fit and proper person". If, for example, following the criminal conviction of an instructor, the registrar is no longer satisfied on this score, he can remove that person's name from the register.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to restrict persons convicted of indecency from setting up driving schools to teach driving practice or theory; and if he will make a statement. [12416]

Mr. Norris

In the environment in which ordinary driving instruction takes place, it is sensible that the instructor should be subject to vetting as to previous convictions, and so on. However, there is no obvious need for a special conduct regime for classroom tuition services since the isolated and relatively vulnerable circumstances of one-to-one in a car do not arise.