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Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Bill [Money]

I beg to move,"That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State in consequence of the Act." That also covers any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided. On Second Reading, it was the will of the House that the Bill—introduced by the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Willie Rennie)—be discussed in Committee. It will introduce a power for the suspension of driving instructors who pose a threat to members of the public. The Bill will have expenditure implications for the public purse, which will relate to compensation payable to driving instructors who have been suspended but whose permission to give paid driving instruction is not subsequently revoked, or whose permission is reinstated on appeal. The level of expenditure is unlikely to be significant, as it is expected that very few cases will result in the awarding of compensation. However, approval for a money resolution is needed before the Committee can debate the issue fully. The hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife has previously explained to the House that he has a particular interest in the issue as a consequence of concerns raised by one of his constituents. The overwhelming majority of driving instructors, having satisfied the registrar that they are "fit and proper" persons, remain so throughout their careers. Unfortunately, a small number do not. Hon. Members will be rightly anxious for adequate safeguards to cover circumstances in which persons are prevented from following their profession. To that end, I wish to reassure the House that the Bill provides for a satisfactory statutory compensation scheme for the reimbursement of losses suffered by a suspended instructor whose suspension is subsequently lifted, and who is permitted to resume giving paid instruction. That is why we need the money resolution, and on that basis I commend it to the House.