Anne Main MP challenges Gordon Brown over drop in motorbike learners

At Prime Minister’s Questions today, Anne Main pressed the Prime Minister over changes to the motorcycle test which saw 50,000 fewer learners take the motorcycle test in the last eight months of 2009, compared to the same period on 2008. The number of passes also declined, from 53,000 in the last eight months of 2008 to 22,000 in the same period in 2009, a fall of 58%.

The decline follows the introduction of a new test in April 2009, something which Anne raised in August 2008. Anne asked the Prime Minister to investigate the issue and see if anything can be done to address the decline, and he promised to ask the Transport Secretary to look into the matter.

Upon leaving the chamber, Anne said: “In St Albans and Hertfordshire we have a strong motorcycling community, and many people choose to take to their motorbikes to navigate through our tight streetscapes and congested roads, and access the rolling countryside beyond.

It is important, therefore, that we address the bureaucracy which is preventing people from riding motorbikes. The new arrangements mean that, rather than taking their test locally, people have to travel from St Albans to Enfield to take their test, and when this is reproduced across the country, and a more stringent testing process is thrown in, it isn’t hard to see why less people are taking and passing their test.

I very much hope the Prime Minister and the Transport Secretary will address this issue, as it is clear that something needs to be done. I know the Motorcycle Action Group – who are active locally – are keen to have these issues resolved.”