PARLIAMENTARY hopeful David Mowat has slammed the Government over its announcement that driving test fees for cars and motor cycles are to rise by an average of almost 20 per cent.
The Warrington South Conservative Prospective
Parliamentary candidate said: “It beggars belief that the Government can hike up the cost of driving tests when so many families and firms are struggling to keep afloat during the recession.”
Mr Mowat said practical driving tests were rising by almost 10 per cent for weekday tests and almost 12 per cent for out-of-hours tests.
For motor cyclists, the first module would go up by a huge 55 per cent with the second module rising by up to eight per cent.
Practical vocational and car-plus-trailer tests would also go up by almost 13 per cent.
Cab drivers would face average increases of 13 per cent.
Hauliers would have to pay a nine per cent rise, despite a 236 per cent increase in the number of HGV drivers claiming JSA in December last year compared with the same period in 2007.
Mr Mowat added: “New drivers in Warrington are facing a double whammy as they are hit by rising fees along with the closure of our local test centres because of ministerial incompetence.”
