§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) qualifications and (b) experience are required of driving examiners employed by the Department of the Environment (NI) to conduct check-tests on driving instructors. [36814]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. B. Watson. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from J. B. Watson to Mr. David Trimble, dated 6 April 1998:
The Minister for the Environment, Lord Dubs, has asked me to reply to your question about the qualifications and experience required of driving examiners.Examiners who conduct check tests on driving instructors must hold a current category B (motor car) driving licence, which is free of endorsements, and have successfully undertaken both the six-week Driving Traffic Examiners Course and the eight-week Supervision of Approved Driving Instructors Course conducted by the Driving Standards Agency.
§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will introduce an appeals procedure for driving instructors who fail(a) one and (b) two check-tests conducted by Department of the Environment (NI) driving examiners. [36815]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThere are no plans to introduce additional appeals procedures for driving instructors' check tests. The existing system allows driving instructors three attempts to demonstrate their competence before they are considered by the Registrar for removal from the register, and the Registrar's decision is then subject to appeal. An instructor who is unhappy about any aspects of a check test may also seek redress through the complaint procedure. The cost of additional procedures, which would be time-consuming, cumbersome and unwieldy, could not be justified.