HC Deb 21 January 1997 vol 288 cc560-2W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisation his Department consulted over the implementation of the new compulsory basic training regulations for motor cyclists. [11458]

Mr. Bowis

The organisations listed were sent a copy of the August 1995 consultation paper which first announced the proposed change.

  • Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council
  • Associations of Chief Police Officers (England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland)
  • Association of County Councils
  • Association of District Councils
  • Association of Industrial Road Safety Officers
  • Association of London Boroughs Road Safety Officers
  • Association of London Authorities
  • Association of Metropolitan Authorities
  • Automobile Association
  • British Motorcyclists Federation
  • Chartered Institute of Transport
  • City of London Police
  • Civil Service Motoring Association Ltd.
  • Community Transport Association London
  • Community Transport Services
  • Confederation of British Industry
    • 561
  • Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
  • County Road Safety Officer's Association
  • Disabled Drivers' Association
  • Disabled Drivers' Motor Club
  • Disabled Motorists Federation
  • Driving Instructors Association
  • General and Municipal Workers' Union
  • Guild of Experienced Motorists
  • Institute of Advanced Motorists
  • Institute of Professional Driving Examiners
  • Institute of Road Safety Officers
  • Joint Action Group on Motorcycle Training
  • Justices' Clerks Society
  • Learn and Live Campaign
  • London Boroughs Association
  • Magistrates Association
  • Motorcycle Action Group
  • Motorcycle Industry Association Ltd.
  • Motorcycle Retailers Association
  • Motor Schools Association of Great Britain Ltd.
  • National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
  • National Council of Inland Transport
  • National Farmers Union
  • National Farmers Union of Scotland
  • National Union of Civil and Public Servants
  • Office of the Commissioner of The Police for the Metropolis
  • Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport Safety
  • Royal Scottish Automobile Club
  • Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
  • Scottish Courts Administration
  • Trades Union Congress—Economic and Social Affairs Department
  • Transport and General Workers Union
  • Transport Association
  • United Road Transport Union
  • Approved Motorcycle Training Organisations—408

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice organisations, consulted on the CBT regulation for motor cyclists, gave as to the amount of time needed for rider training agencies to train and test those motor cyclists and moped riders who are affected by the recent change in legislation. [11459]

Mr. Bowis

Consultees did not know the number that would be directly affected by the change, but some motor cycle industry bodies supported giving a year's notice before the change was implemented. In the light of these representations, we deferred implementation for six months until 1 January 1997, 17 months after the change was originally proposed.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures were taken to publicise the changes in the CBT regulations; what information was given; when it was disseminated; and to which bodies. [11460]

Mr. Bowis

Advice about the change was included in the Department of Transport's factsheet about motor cycling from February 1996, "The Driving Test" handbook from July, "The Motorcycling Manual" handbook from October, leaflets issued with driving licences since August and with vehicle tax renewals from October. Meetings were held with motor cycle industry representatives in March and July to discuss publicity arrangements. A leaflet was prepared and bulk copies supplied in May to motor cycle dealers, trainers and road safety officers. Copies were also supplied to motor insurance companies. Advice was sent to organisations teaching the "knowledge" to learner London taxi drivers in August and October. There has been considerable coverage on the television, including a piece during prime time in September, and in the national newspapers and the specialist press. Letters were sent at the start of December to some 283,000 registered keepers of small motor cycles and mopeds. We recognised that many of these would be unaffected as they held a full licence or had already taken CBT, but the letter would provide guidance were others to wish to use the motor bikes.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra resources his Department has made available to deal with the number of people needing to take their CBT. [11461]

Mr. Bowis

The Department of Transport does not directly provide CBT courses. These are provided by approved training bodies which may be commercial organisations, voluntary bodies or local authorities.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for further consultations relating to improving safety for learner motor cyclists; and if he will allow an additional three-month period for existing riders who do not have CBT to undertake training without having their licence revoked. [11462]

Mr. Bowis

In October we consulted interested parties about measures to improve safety for learner motor cyclists and we are currently considering the responses. I have no plans to reintroduce a distinction in CBT rules between those who obtained their licence before 1 December 1990 and those who obtained their licence after.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will repeal the one-year ban on learner motor cyclists who fail to pass their full test within two years of being granted a provisional licence. [11463]

Mr. Bowis

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 12 November 1996,Official Report, column 115.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further changes to the motor cyclist licensing requirements he proposes to introduce; and what form these will take. [11464]

Mr. Bowis

A wide-ranging consultation paper about motor cycle training was issued in October 1996 and I shall consider possible changes to training in the light of responses.