Driving Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals have taken the driving theory test in each year since its introduction; in how many cases a voiceover has been used for those whose first language is not English; and how many requests have been submitted for the driving theory test to be taken in a foreign language. (270418)

The number of individuals taking the theory test for all categories since 2004-05 was:

	Number of individuals taking theory test
2008-09 (up to February 2009)	1,008,255
2007-08	1,201,883
2006-07	1,109,366
2005-06	1,095,642
2004-05	885,298

The following number of theory tests have had voice-overs in either English or non-English languages. English voiceovers have been included because some candidates may understand spoken English, but not written English.

	Total number of voiceovers	Number of English voiceovers	Number of non-English voiceovers
2008-09 (up to February 2009)	172,560	95,271	77,289
2007-08	211,553	108,716	102,837
2006-07	175,524	82,721	92,803
2005-06	156,390	72,658	83,732
2004-05	147,756	68,049	79,707

Candidates can independently obtain the services of a Driving Standards Agency (DSA)-approved translator. The following theory tests were conducted using either a non-English voiceover, or a DSA-approved translator.

	Number of theory tests taken with translators	Total number of theory tests with translators or with non-English voiceovers
2008-09 (up to February 2009)	1,263	78,552
2007-08	996	103,833
2006-07	914	93,717
2005-06	995	84,727
2004-05	805	80,512

Volume 491: debated on Monday 27 April 2009