Context
The hon. Member is concerned about the difficulty of recruiting drivers for community transport services in his constituency, which affects the provision of vital services to isolated individuals.
Question
My constituency is fortunate to have both Dawlish community transport and Newton Abbot community transport. They provide vital services for many people who would otherwise be isolated and lonely but, like many other volunteer groups, they are finding it hard to recruit. Recruiting drivers for their minibus services is a particularly challenging issue as anyone who took their driving test before 1997 automatically got a D1 minibus class licence, whereas younger drivers have had to take an additional new driving test with estimated costs between £800 and £1,800.
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)
Unfortunately, up to 30% of drivers who take the D1 test fail. When we are considering changes, it is important that safety is at the forefront of our thinking.
Not addressed: Adding exceptions to D1 requirements for community transport and other volunteer groups
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