4 Jun 2008 : Column 934W—continued
Driving Tests
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres her Department plans to relocate in the next 12 months; what the reason is for relocation in each case; and if she will make a statement. [207132]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
The Driving Standards Agency plans to relocate 54 driving test centres in the next 12 months. The test centres and the reason for relocation are shown in the following table.
| Driving Test Centre | Reason for relocation | Relocating to |
|
Aberdeen
|
MPTC Programme
|
Aberdeen MPTC
|
|
Ayr
|
MPTC Programme
|
Ayr MPTC
|
|
Basingstoke
|
MPTC Programme
|
Farnborough MPTC
|
|
Bexleyheath
|
MPTC Programme
|
Erith Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC)
|
|
Blackburn
|
MPTC Programme
|
Blackburn MPTC
|
|
Brighton
|
MPTC Programme
|
Burgess Hill MPTC
|
|
Burton On Trent
|
MPTC Programme
|
Burton on Trent MPTC
|
4 Jun 2008 : Column 935W
4 Jun 2008 : Column 936W
|
Camborne L
|
MPTC Programme
|
Redruth MPTC
|
|
Carlisle
|
MPTC Programme
|
Carlisle MPTC
|
|
Chester
|
MPTC Programme
|
Chester MPTC
|
|
Cupar
|
MPTC Programme
|
Kirkcaldy MPTC
|
|
Dundee
|
MPTC Programme
|
Dundee MPTC
|
|
Ellesmere Port
|
MPTC Programme
|
Chester MPTC
|
|
Farnborough
|
MPTC Programme
|
Farnborough MPTC
|
|
Fort William
|
Casual hire terminated by landlord
|
Proposed new site in Fort William
|
|
Gedling
|
MPTC Programme
|
Colwick MPTC
|
|
Gillingham
|
MPTC Programme
|
Gillingham MPTC
|
|
Gosport
|
MPTC Programme
|
Lee on Solent (Farehem) MPTC
|
|
Gravesend
|
MPTC Programme
|
Gillingham MPTC
|
|
Haverfordwest
|
MPTC Programme
|
Haverfordwest MPTC
|
|
Hayes
|
MPTC Programme
|
Uxbridge MPTC
|
|
Herne Bay
|
MPTC Programme
|
Thanet Way MPTC
|
|
Hove
|
MPTC Programme
|
Burgess Hill MPTC
|
|
Inverness
|
MPTC Programme
|
Inverness MPTC
|
|
Kettering
|
MPTC Programme
|
Kettering MPTC
|
|
Kidderminster
|
Property is in very poor condition
|
Lower Gornal
|
|
Kings Lynn
|
MPTC Programme
|
Kings Lynn MPTC
|
|
Kirkcaldy
|
MPTC Programme
|
Kirkcaldy MPTC
|
|
Leicester Welford Road
|
MPTC Programme
|
Wigston MPTC
|
|
Lincoln
|
MPTC Programme
|
Lincoln MPTC
|
|
Minehead
|
MPTC Programme
|
Taunton MPTC
|
|
Norwich
|
MPTC Programme
|
Norwich MPTC
|
|
Pembroke Dock
|
MPTC Programme
|
Haverfordwest MPTC
|
|
Penzance
|
MPTC Programme
|
Redruth MPTC
|
|
Peterborough
|
MPTC Programme
|
Peterborough MPTC
|
|
Plymouth
|
MPTC Programme
|
Plymouth MPTC
|
|
Reading LGV
|
MPTC Programme
|
Greenham Common MPTC
|
|
Sheffield - Handsworth
|
Property is in poor condition and operational problems re test routes
|
Proposed new site in Sheffield
|
|
Shirley
|
MPTC Programme
|
Garretts Green MPTC
|
|
Southend
|
MPTC Programme
|
Basildon MPTC
|
|
Spalding
|
MPTC Programme
|
Peterborough MPTC
|
|
Sunderland
|
Property is in poor condition and operational problems re test routes
|
Proposed new site in Sunderland
|
|
Sutton-in-Ashfield
|
Property is in poor condition and operational problems re test routes
|
Proposed new site in Sutton-in-Ashfield
|
|
Swansea
|
MPTC Programme
|
Swansea MPTC
|
|
Swindon
|
MPTC Programme
|
Swindon MPTC
|
|
Taunton
|
MPTC Programme
|
Taunton MPTC
|
|
Trowbridge
|
Lease break
|
Existing DTC at Chippenham
|
|
Warrington
|
MPTC Programme
|
St Helens MPTC
|
|
Washwood Heath
|
MPTC Programme
|
Garretts Green MPTC
|
|
Wellingborough
|
MPTC Programme
|
Kettering MPTC
|
|
West Bridgford
|
MPTC Programme
|
Colwick MPTC
|
|
Wisbech
|
MPTC Programme
|
Kings Lynn MPTC
|
|
Wolverhampton
|
MPTC Programme
|
Wolverhampton MPTC
|
|
York
|
Lease expiry and landlord will not renew
|
Proposed new site in York
|
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres have been closed in each of the last five years; and what the reason for closure was in each case. [207133]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
The Driving Standards Agency has closed 11 driving test centres in the last five years. The reason for the closure of each centre is shown in the table.
| | Driving Test Centre | Reason for closure |
|
2004
|
Newport (Gwent)
|
Lease terminated by the landlord.
|
|
2004
|
Croydon LGV
|
Lease terminated by the landlord.
|
|
2005
|
Wanstead (Nightingale Lane)
|
Temporary accommodation while we did repair work on our other building.
|
|
2005
|
Wallington Old Town Hall
|
Lease terminated by the landlord under the landlord and tenant Act 1954.
|
4 Jun 2008 : Column 937W
4 Jun 2008 : Column 938W
|
2006
|
Wishaw
|
Vacated permanent accommodation due to MOTO termination. Relocated to short-term accommodation in 2006.
|
|
2006
|
Birmingham (Quinton)
|
Landlord (Ofcom) served notice on DSA, terminating the MOTO in place
|
|
2007
|
Thornaby
|
The condition of the building had deteriorated to an unacceptable level. Tests were relocated to the Darlington Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC), Middlesborough and Hartlepool.
|
|
2007
|
Glasgow Cowglen
|
The only tests conducted here were for Approved Driving Instructors. Offices were used one day a month which did not make economic sense.
|
|
2007
|
Wrexham
|
Lease expiry. Landlord would not renew as redeveloping site. Replacement being sought.
|
|
2007
|
Hessle
|
Co-located at Hull MPTC
|
|
2008
|
Gainsborough
|
Co-located at Scunthorpe MPTC
|
MOTO is a 'Memorandum of terms of occupation'—an informal agreement with another Government Department.
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres have been relocated in each of the last five years; and what the reason for relocation was in each case. [207134]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
The Driving Standards Agency has relocated a total of 43 driving test centres in the last five years. The test centre and the reason for relocation are shown in the following table.
| | Driving test centre | Reason for relocation | Relocated to |
|
2002
|
Glasgow Shawbridge
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Glasgow, Mosspark
|
|
2003
|
Whitby
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Whitby
|
|
2003
|
Oswestry, Salop Road
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Oswestry, Maesbury Road
|
|
2003
|
Shrewsbury, Bell Lane
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Shrewsbury, Yeomanry Road
|
|
2004
|
Coventry Holyhead Road
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Coventry, Bayton Road
|
|
2004
|
Coventry Mason Road
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Coventry, Bayton Road
|
|
2004
|
Aberdeen, Clunie
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Aberdeen, Altens
|
|
2004
|
Crieff, King Street
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Crieff, Broich Road
|
|
2004
|
Dingwall
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Alness
|
|
2004
|
Dunfermline
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Dunfermline, Estania
|
|
2004
|
Glasgow, Shettleston
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Glasgow Baillieston
|
|
2004
|
Inverness, Torvean Avenue
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Inverness, Cradlehall
|
|
2004
|
Kenton Bar
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Newcastle, Elswick
|
|
2004
|
Preston, Cottam Lane
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Preston, Nelson Court
|
|
2004
|
Rochdale
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Rochdale, Blueberry Business Park
|
|
2004
|
Tain
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Alness
|
|
2005
|
Cannock, North Street
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Cannock, Ridings Park
|
|
2005
|
Edinburgh Parkhead
|
Traffic in area became too busy so moved to better accommodation locally
|
Edinburgh, Currie
|
|
2005
|
Hartlepool
|
Lease expiry, move to alternative accommodation locally
|
Hartlepool
|
|
2005
|
Grays
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Tilbury
|
|
2006
|
Aldershot
|
Disposal of site by MOD
|
Farnborough
|
|
2006
|
Cleethorpes
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Great Grimsby
|
|
2006
|
Gloucester
|
MPTC Programme
|
Gloucester MPTC
|
|
2006
|
Thornaby Brus House
|
Lease expiry and property to be demolished
|
Thornaby Appleby House
|
|
2006
|
Shrewsbury, Yeomanry Road
|
MPTC Programme
|
Shrewsbury MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Edinburgh Joppa
|
MPTC Programme
|
Musselburgh MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Exeter
|
MPTC Programme
|
Exeter MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Gateshead
|
MPTC Programme
|
Gateshead MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Glasgow, Mosspark
|
MPTC Programme
|
Glasgow MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Hull
|
MPTC Programme
|
Hull MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Ipswich, LGV
|
MPTC Programme
|
Ipswich MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Ipswich, Woodbridge Road
|
MPTC Programme
|
Ipswich MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Peterhead
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Peterhead
|
|
2007
|
Rotherham
|
MPTC Programme
|
Rotherham MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Rugby
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Rugby
|
|
2007
|
Sidcup
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Sidcup
|
|
2007
|
Skegness
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Skegness
|
|
2007
|
Winchmore Hill
|
MPTC Programme
|
Enfield MPTC
|
|
2007
|
Worksop
|
Move to better accommodation locally
|
Worksop
|
4 Jun 2008 : Column 939W
4 Jun 2008 : Column 940W
|
2008
|
Cwmbran
|
MPTC Programme
|
Newport MPTC
|
|
2008
|
Darlington
|
MPTC Programme
|
Darlington MPTC
|
|
2008
|
Scunthorpe
|
MPTC Programme
|
Scunthorpe MPTC
|
|
2008
|
St. Helens
|
MPTC Programme
|
St. Helens MPTC
|
