To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many approved driving instructors (a) have passed and (b) are yet to pass the hazard perception test. (100876)

As of 31 October 2006, 35,409 approved driving instructors (ADIs) on the register have passed the hazard perception test. This equates to 87 per cent. of ADIs on the register. 5,419 (13 per cent.) are yet to pass.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of approved driving instructors who will not have passed the hazard perception test by 31 December 2006. (100877)

As of 31 October, 5,419 approved driving instructors (ADIs) have not passed the hazard perception test. The current rate is for 2,000 to pass each month, on average.

This would leave 1,419, or 3 per cent., who would not have passed by the end of December. There may be a ‘last minute’ rush from ADIs to complete the test. Some ADIs may take this opportunity to cease instruction voluntarily.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government has to take action in respect of approved driving instructors who have failed to pass the hazard perception test by 31st December but who continue to teach. (100878)

Instructors who have not passed the test will be notified that they have 28 days to make representations to the registrar.

Should the registrar decide they should be removed from the register, they will have 28 days to appeal to the Transport Tribunal.

Instructors can continue to instruct up to the date of the publication of the tribunal decision. However, should any instructors whose appeal is rejected by the tribunal continue to instruct, the Driving Standards Agency will make investigations with a view to prosecution for illegal instruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department has given to extending the 31st December deadline for approved driving instructors to pass the hazard perception test. (100879)

After consultation from the driver training industry, the Government extended from one year to two the period for an Approved Driving Instructor to pass the hazard perception test.

The Driving Standards Agency has no plan to extend the deadline further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration was given to allowing existing approved driving instructors (a) exemption and (b) extension in relation to the hazard perception test. (100880)

When the hazard perception test (HPT) was introduced as a requirement for new Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) in November 2002, existing ADIs were not required to pass the assessment.

The Driving Standards Agency consulted in April 2003 on extending this requirement to existing instructors.

Consultees, including representatives from the ADI industry, were broadly in favour of the proposal. The HPT was introduced as a requirement for existing ADIs as a result in 2005.