HC Deb 25 March 2004 vol 419 cc973-4W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many cycling proficiency tests have been(a) taken and (b) passed in each year since 1997, (i) in total and (ii) broken down by local authority; [163115]

(2) what financial support has been given from his Department to local authorities for (a) cycling proficiency testing and (b) other bicycle training (i) in total and (ii) broken down by local authority. [163116]

Mr. Jamieson

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 February 2004,Official Report, columns 339–40W.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been conducted into the safety implications of(a) the cycling proficiency test and (b) other bicycle training; [163117]

(2) what recent changes have been made, and what changes are proposed, to (a) the cycling proficiency test and (b) other bicycle training. [163118]

Mr. Jamieson

The Transport Research Laboratory's Research Project Report 214, "The Effectiveness of Child Cycle Training Schemes" has shown that cycle training is effective, with trained children found to be significantly safer than untrained children when knowledge and skills were tested two years after training. The research also identified that better performing cycling schemes involve on-road training, staged courses spread out over a number of weeks, and a problem solving or cycling awareness approach to learning.

There is no longer a single official cycle proficiency test. Local authorities adopt different practices when running cycle training schemes according to how they believe they can best deliver safer cycling locally. But we understand that many local authorities currently base their cycle training on the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' guidelines for the management and operation of practical cyclist training schemes.

The Department is currently working with the National Cycling Strategy Board for England to develop a comprehensive promotion of cycling to school. This involves a close look at current cycle training provision; developing a national standard for child cycle training with road safety organisations, cycle trainers and cycling organisations.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many qualified bicycle trainers there were in each year since 1997. [163120]

Mr. Jamieson

There is no centrally held data on the numbers of cycle trainers.