§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions with which countries his Department has arrangements in place for the exchange of driving licences for a British equivalent. [64439]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe countries are: Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Cyprus, Singapore, Switzerland, Zimbabwe. It is also possible to exchange licences from countries in the European Economic Area (EU Member States plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), but such licences are subject to mutual recognition and need not be exchanged.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the holders of full Canadian driving licences will be able to exchange them for British equivalents; and if he will make a statement. [64440]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonRecognition of Canadian licences is made complicated by the fact that the 12 Canadian Provinces are separate licensing authorities and the licences generally do not strictly conform to the UK requirements. Nevertheless legislation to allow holders of Canadian car driving licences to exchange them for the British equivalent is in hand. The aim is to have the necessary arrangement in place early in 1999.