§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps will be taken to ensure satisfactory levels of public service in areas where driving test centres have been closed. [86262]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Driving Standards Agency will monitor local test waiting times and seek to ensure that service standards are delivered.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means the Driving Standards Agency deals with complaints from(a) the general public, (b) approved driving instructors and (c) hon. Members; and for what reasons records are not kept of the nature and numbers of check test complaints from driving instructors. [86256]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Driving Standards Agency has a service standard that 97 per cent. of written complaints receive a reply within 10 days and the remainder within 15 days. The Agency does not record the number of complaints about ADI check tests such as to indicate individual cases. The overall number of such complaints is small and the Agency has not felt it necessary to keep a consolidated analysis. However, in view of increasing concerns, the Agency plans to review the way complaints about check tests from individual instructors are recorded and monitored.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to re-open previously closed driving test centres. [86248]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere are no plans to re-open any previously closed driving test centre. The re-opening of a centre in the same locality could be considered if the need arose.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what forecasts the Driving Standards Agency has made of future demand levels. [86246]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonForecast demands for driving tests are published in the Driving Standards Agency's Business Plan. This forecasts nearly 1.4 million applications for practical driving tests and just over 1 million applications for theory tests in the financial year 1999–2000.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on the basis of what factors or criteria the Driving Standards Agency will decide to re-open a previously closed test centre. [86258]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonRe-opening a previously closed test centre would be most unlikely, unless it was a temporary closure for operational reasons. In the majority of situations the property would have been re-used by the landlord. The re-opening of a centre in the same locality could be considered if the need arose.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what criteria the guidelines for the maximum distance which a test candidate should have to travel to a test centre are set. [86251]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe guideline distances were based on information from customer surveys and drew on the experience of establishing the theory test centre network.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what opportunities exist for local communities to participate in the consultation process prior to a driving test centre closure. [86259]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere are several opportunities for participation as public consultation about a proposed test centre closure involves the local authority, local driving instructors, and the local Member of Parliament. The Driving Standards Agency usually holds a public meeting and notifies the local media when a closure is proposed.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means the Driving Standards Agency intends to improve and expand its consultation processes to ensure information and proposals reach approved driving instructors who do not belong to any of the national associations. [86266]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Driving Standards Agency publishes a quarterly magazine and sends a copy to all approved driving instructors. This provides briefing on a wide range of matters relating to driver training and testing. Driving instructors have the opportunity to give their views via regular customer satisfaction tracking surveys. Local consultative meetings are held regularly with instructors, and driving examiners responsible for conducting check tests hold weekly surgeries with instructors. The Agency sends copies of relevant consultative documents to local driving instructor associations. Since July 1998, the Driving Standards Agency has posted copies of its consultation papers on a Departmental Internet website, and the Agency plans to open its own website soon.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reform the consultation process for driving test centre closures. [86264]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Driving Standards Agency has recently improved its procedures to enhance the consultation arrangements. We have no further current plans to change the consultation process, but we are open to suggestions for improvement. We shall continue to try to maximise the amount of time given to interested parties for them to comment.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the closure of driving test centres on demand. [86221]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonFollowing the closure of a driving test centre, the Driving Standards Agency monitors demand at neighbouring centres. Should waiting times give cause for concern, additional examiners are allocated to maintain customer service standards.
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§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he intends to take to ensure the establishment of a formal appeals procedure against the result awarded on a check test. [86250]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAn appeals process already exists against a decision to remove an instructor's name from the Register of Approved Driving Instructors. The current arrangements contain safeguards for the instructor, who is not normally removed from the Register unless he or she has failed three successive check tests, the final one being conducted by an Assistant Chief Driving Examiner. After that, the Registrar's decision to remove an instructor from the Register is subject to the appeals process. Appeals are considered by an independent panel. There are no immediate plans to introduce separate arrangements to appeal against the professional judgment of an examiner conducting a check test.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Driving Standards Agency has to(a) change the criteria for check tests, (b) limit their frequency and (c) ensure examiner consistency. [86265]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonA two-year research project is underway, considering the way car driving instructors are trained and tested. This will report next year, and we shall consider the criteria used for check tests thereafter. Organisations representing driving instructors are kept informed of the emerging results and there is ample opportunity for them to have input to the research. The Driving Standards Agency changed the frequency for Grade 4 instructors to be check tested from one year to two years from 1 October 1998. Consistency of assessment in the conduct of check tests is provided by training and supervision of the examiners conducting the tests.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of the theory test on the numbers of people learning to drive. [86255]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe introduction of the separate theory test added a step to the process of learning to drive, but we have no information whether or how it has affected the numbers of people wishing to learn to drive.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the opinion of driving instructors of the check testing regime. [86267]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Driving Standards Agency regularly surveys driving instructors to assess their satisfaction with the services provided by the Agency. In the most recent surveys during 1997–98, over 85 per cent. of those instructors who responded said they were satisfied with the way their check test was handled.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Driving Standards Agency takes to provide a local service when it decides temporarily to close a local test centre. [86260]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Driving Standards Agency would provide a local testing service during a temporary closure if there was not a neighbouring test centre that could ensure customer service standards were maintained, and providing there was sufficient time to arrange a temporary centre. Planning consent and time factors are critical in considering the viability of making alternative arrangements.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further steps the Driving Standards Agency intends to take to ensure that all those who pass the theory test apply for the practical test. [86254]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonSince August 1998, theory test pass certificates have been printed showing the expiry date. Also, in April 1998, the Driving Standards Agency wrote to candidates holding theory test pass certificates who had not passed a practical test after 14 months reminding them that their theory test certificate had a two-year life. The Agency is considering a further mailshot to candidates who have held a theory test pass for a significant period and who may let it lapse by mistake.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason no consultation is undertaken when a driving test centre is closed temporarily for operational reasons. [86220]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Driving Standards Agency consults interested parties about test centre closures when time allows. Temporary closures for operational reasons are generally caused by events outside the control of the Agency, such as roadworks or road closures or health and safety issues affecting the property. Prior consultation in these circumstances is not always possible.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what level of qualification and experience is required before an examiner may check test an approved driving instructor. [86249]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonExaminers who conduct check tests are especially selected from the existing examiner workforce for the purpose. They have to successfully complete a six-week training course covering the theory and practice of driving instruction. After qualification, their professional development is supported by supervision by senior staff to ensure consistency and fairness.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what impact current trends in demand are having on the Driving Standards Agency's cashflow; and what plans the Agency has to respond to the impact of these trends. [86243]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonDemand for driving tests is stable and the Driving Standards Agency's cashflow is satisfactory. The Agency is controlling costs in line with forecast demand, and in accordance with the rules for Government bodies operating with Trading Funds.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what alternatives are considered to closures of driving test centres. [86222]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonDriving test centre closures are proposed when a centre is no longer needed or no longer viable. If a centre is needed to meet demand, but a particular property has become unsuitable or unavailable, other properties are sought. A relevant consideration is the availability of local alternative facilities in line with customer service standards.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the issuing of reminders to those who have failed to apply for their practical driving test. [86253]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe have not sought to distinguish between those who specifically responded to the reminder and those who would have applied for a practical test anyway.