Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has welcomed today’s announcement by the Welsh Government that driving lessons can restart later this month, and tests in August.

Lessons and tests resumed in England at the beginning of the month, and in recent weeks Darren has been calling on the Welsh Government to allow driving lessons, theory tests and practical tests to recommence in Wales.

He is therefore pleased that the First Minister has confirmed a schedule for the restarting of lessons and tests, but regrets that learners and instructors in Wales are being made to wait a further two weeks for lessons and even longer for tests.

In an announcement this morning Mark Drakeford said lessons can resume from July 27th, with theory and practical driving tests being phased in from August 3rd.

Commenting on the news, Darren said:

“This is fantastic news for all those learners who have had to put their driving on hold in the past four months. It is also great news for all the instructors and examiners in Wales, whose livelihoods have been at risk.

“With the easing of lockdown measures in recent weeks, learners and instructors have been crying out for some indication as to when lessons and tests would resume, and while I am sure they will be delighted that a date has at last been set, they will undoubtedly be disappointed and frustrated that they have got to wait a further two weeks for lessons and even longer for tests.  

“Like with everything the Welsh Government announces with regards coming out of lockdown, there is always an unnecessary time lapse.”