To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the average forward booking time for module (a) 1 and (b) 2 of the new motorcycle test. (278045)

The latest forward booking times, in weeks, for the practical motorcycling test (modules 1 and 2) are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of applicants for motorcycle tests who reside within (a) 20 miles and (b) 45 minutes travel time of a multi-purpose test centre. (278047)

We estimate that 88 per cent. and 97 per cent. of the population are within 20 miles or 45 minutes of a centre delivering module 1 and 2 tests respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the difference between the percentage increase in fees for driving tests for motorcycles and driving tests for cars in the period between September 2008 and October 2009. (278085)

Between September 2008 and October 2009, the fee increase percentage for a practical car test was 9.7 per cent. (£56.50 to £62); the increase for the on-road element of the motorcycle test was 25 per cent. (£60 to £75).

The main reason for the difference in increase was that the Driving Standards Agency implemented fee increases for its main activities, including practical car tests, in April 2008. Owing to the expectation of the changes being made to the practical motorcycle test later in that year, the fee increase for that test was delayed until the end of September 2008.

A more appropriate comparison is therefore to compare fee levels in March 2008 and October 2009, which include two general fee increases for both activities. This shows an increase in car test fees of 28 per cent. (£48.50 to £62) compared to an increase of 25 per cent. (£60 to £75) for the comparable element of the motorcycle test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of using or adapting existing testing facilities to deliver both modules of the new motorcycle test until additional multi-purpose test centres are available. (278022)

Utilising existing testing facilities was considered as part of the Driving. Standards Agency's development of options for implementing the new motorcycling test.

The more demanding manoeuvres required and assessed in module 1 need to be conducted off the public highway for road safety purposes. None of the existing test centres had the necessary facilities to offer off-road manoeuvring areas.

Where suitable existing test centres are available they are used to deliver module 2 of the new practical motorcycle test which is delivered on public roads.