Written question asked by Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 1 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 June 2009. It was answered by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour) on Monday, 8 June 2009 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Driving Tests: Motorcycles

Question: 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.

Answer: 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.

Secondary information