§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the standards to which the Defence School of Transport operates are satisfactory. [HL3787]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Instructional standards at the Defence School of Transport (DST) conform to all current testing requirements set by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). Instructors on the Defence Driving Instructor course have been trained by the DSA and there are three instructors trained by the DSA as Large Goods Vehicle Driving Instructor Assessors for the purpose of testing MoD personnel to the required standard for entry to the DSA Voluntary LGV Driving Instructor register. The school has also achieved ISO 9001 accreditation for Quality Assurance. The MoD is therefore confident that the standards at the DST are satisfactory.
202WA
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the principal makes, models and types of vehicles used at the Defence School of Transport for training light goods vehicle and car drivers, instructors and examiners. [HL3788]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe information requested is as follows:
Vehicle Maker Vehicle Model Vehicle Type Defence Driving Instructor (DDI) Training Leyland DAF 4 tonne Crew Cab Defence Driving Examiner (DDE) training Vauxhall Astra Diesel Estate Car DDE training Ford IVECO 11/15 tonne cargo (dual control)
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is any difference between the "system of driving" trained by the Defence School of Transport and the Driving Standards Agency: and, if so, what are the differences. [HL3789]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Driving Standards Agency (DSA) does not conduct driver training, but is the authority for setting standards for all driving tests and offers guidance to civilian and military training organisations to achieve these test standards through whatever means are appropriate—for example, reference manuals and policy. The Defence School of Transport meets fully all DSA, criteria.
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the start standards for a student on the Defence School of Transport's Defence Driving Instructor Course. [HL3790]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanEntry standards for personnel undertaking the Defence Driving Instructor Course at the Defence School of Transport are as follows:
Must be substantive NCO or selected MoD civilian from a recognised driver training establishment.
Minimum age of 21 years.
Must have held a category B licence for a minimum of three years, a category C licence for a minimum of two years and a category C + E licence for a minimum of three months.
Must have had no disqualifications within the previous four years.
Must have no more than three current penalty points on their licence.
203WA
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What range of driving experience would a student on the Defence School of Transport's Defence Driving Instructor Course be expected to have. [HL3791]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanA potential student on the Defence Driving Instructor Course at the Defence School of Transport will be expected to have: held a category B licence for a minimum of three years; held a category C licence for a minimum of two years; and held a category C + E licence for a minimum of three months.
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the duration and content of the Defence School of Transport's Defence Driving Instructor Course; and what training would a civilian-approved driving instructor have that a Defence Driving Instructor would not have. [HL3792]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Defence Driving Instructor (DDI) Course runs for 15 training days (commonly three weeks). Students are required to pass a written theory test, a driving assessment, an instructional assessment, a cross-country instructional assessment and a recovery instructional assessment. Students are subject to continual assessment throughout the course. There are no training requirements for civilian instructors that are additional to these requirements; the civilian course requires a touch screen theory test rather than a written test, and does not require success in cross-country or recovery instructional assessments. Additionally, DDIs are given the result of their test at the end of the course, whereas civilian Approved Driving Instructors are given the results of each of the qualifying tests shortly after taking them.