Taxi drivers are still being forced to wait weeks for a vehicle test before they can get back on the road.

The government-run Vehicle Test Centre was accused of under-performing in Tynwald in June. The sitting was told some taxi drivers were having to wait up to four weeks for a vehicle test, after being forced to switch to a different vehicle in unexpected circumstances.

David Ashford (Douglas North) told the House of Keys last week that taxi drivers were still experiencing delays of more than a month.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer pledged to look into it. He said: ’Staffing issues experienced at the Vehicle Test Centre in recent months are continuing to be addressed and it is hoped that we will start to see a gradual return to standard waiting times.

’The department has also responded proactively to put in place short-term measures to prevent waiting times extending further. This includes improved flexibility around inspections, the ability to fast-track urgent matters and weekend working.’

The department was reviewing vehicle testing requirements, he said.

Mr Ashford said: ’If things are being put in place to fast-track and also to try and solve the issues that are being experienced, why are people still saying that their general experience is that it is taking five to six weeks to get a car through a test?’

The UK has a different system of inspections to the island, with annual MOT tests for nearly all vehicles, which are carried out by private firms.There is no annual MOT in the island but in addition to annual inspections for commercial and passenger vehicles, all imported vehicles undergo an initial inspection.

Mr Harmer has previously said he was ’open’ to the idea of using the private sector to carry out vehicle tests.