§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that theory test venues are within a readily accessible distance from driving test centres; [40262]
(2) what criteria his Department uses to determine whether a driving test centre has its own theory test venue. [40263]
§ Mr. BowisTheory test centres have been located balancing costs, travelling distances for candidates and the frequency of test sessions.
689WTests are available:
within five miles in districts (usually town or cities) with a population density of greater than equal to 1,250 persons per square kilometre;within 40 miles in sparsely populated districts with a population density of less than 100 persons per square kilometre;within 20 miles in other districts where the population density lies between these limits.While it is desirable that theory test centres are readily accessible by public transport, the quality of test routes is important for driving test centres. Therefore, we have no policy of co-locating theory test centres with driving test centres, although population centres often have both.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received concerning the establishment of a venue in Huddersfield for the theory test element of the driving test. [40201]
§ Mr. BowisWe have received two letters on this issue, one from my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) and one from a member of the public.