Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data his Department holds on the number of full time equivalent staff employed to (a) process driving licence applications and (b) deal with driving licence application enquiries, including those employed in call centres, by or on behalf of the DVLA in each year since 2010.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Information on the number of driving licence applications awaiting processing is not held by region. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and at its new customer service centre in Birmingham. These measures are having a positive impact, the number of paper applications awaiting processing has reduced significantly and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times.
Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer. However, the majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet the criteria outlined here.
Since 1 April 2020, the DVLA’s contact centre has recruited and trained 166 staff with 20 more due to join in March and a further 150 being recruited who will start their training between May and July. In addition, the DVLA’s new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham have already recruited 181 of up to 300 staff who are being trained to process medical driving licence applications as well as supporting customers who have contacted the DVLA by phone.
Once a caller has been connected to the queue to speak to a DVLA advisor about a driving licence application, the average waiting time over the last six months is shown in the table below.
Month | Waiting time in minutes |
February 2022 | 14.4 |
January 2022 | 23.6 |
December 2021 | 26.4 |
November 2021 | 24.2 |
October 2021 | 14.4 |
September 2021 | 14.1 |
It is not possible to provide figures for the number of people specifically working to process driving licence applications and deal with driving licence application enquiries on applications, as most DVLA operational roles require staff members to carry out a range of tasks.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data his Department holds on the average telephone contact waiting time for driving licence application enquiries at the DVLA in the last six months.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Information on the number of driving licence applications awaiting processing is not held by region. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and at its new customer service centre in Birmingham. These measures are having a positive impact, the number of paper applications awaiting processing has reduced significantly and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times.
Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer. However, the majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet the criteria outlined here.
Since 1 April 2020, the DVLA’s contact centre has recruited and trained 166 staff with 20 more due to join in March and a further 150 being recruited who will start their training between May and July. In addition, the DVLA’s new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham have already recruited 181 of up to 300 staff who are being trained to process medical driving licence applications as well as supporting customers who have contacted the DVLA by phone.
Once a caller has been connected to the queue to speak to a DVLA advisor about a driving licence application, the average waiting time over the last six months is shown in the table below.
Month | Waiting time in minutes |
February 2022 | 14.4 |
January 2022 | 23.6 |
December 2021 | 26.4 |
November 2021 | 24.2 |
October 2021 | 14.4 |
September 2021 | 14.1 |
It is not possible to provide figures for the number of people specifically working to process driving licence applications and deal with driving licence application enquiries on applications, as most DVLA operational roles require staff members to carry out a range of tasks.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of telephone call handlers at the DVLA to reduce telephone enquiry waiting times.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Information on the number of driving licence applications awaiting processing is not held by region. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and at its new customer service centre in Birmingham. These measures are having a positive impact, the number of paper applications awaiting processing has reduced significantly and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times.
Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer. However, the majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet the criteria outlined here.
Since 1 April 2020, the DVLA’s contact centre has recruited and trained 166 staff with 20 more due to join in March and a further 150 being recruited who will start their training between May and July. In addition, the DVLA’s new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham have already recruited 181 of up to 300 staff who are being trained to process medical driving licence applications as well as supporting customers who have contacted the DVLA by phone.
Once a caller has been connected to the queue to speak to a DVLA advisor about a driving licence application, the average waiting time over the last six months is shown in the table below.
Month | Waiting time in minutes |
February 2022 | 14.4 |
January 2022 | 23.6 |
December 2021 | 26.4 |
November 2021 | 24.2 |
October 2021 | 14.4 |
September 2021 | 14.1 |
It is not possible to provide figures for the number of people specifically working to process driving licence applications and deal with driving licence application enquiries on applications, as most DVLA operational roles require staff members to carry out a range of tasks.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the delays in processing driving licence applications at the DVLA.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Information on the number of driving licence applications awaiting processing is not held by region. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and at its new customer service centre in Birmingham. These measures are having a positive impact, the number of paper applications awaiting processing has reduced significantly and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times.
Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer. However, the majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet the criteria outlined here.
Since 1 April 2020, the DVLA’s contact centre has recruited and trained 166 staff with 20 more due to join in March and a further 150 being recruited who will start their training between May and July. In addition, the DVLA’s new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham have already recruited 181 of up to 300 staff who are being trained to process medical driving licence applications as well as supporting customers who have contacted the DVLA by phone.
Once a caller has been connected to the queue to speak to a DVLA advisor about a driving licence application, the average waiting time over the last six months is shown in the table below.
Month | Waiting time in minutes |
February 2022 | 14.4 |
January 2022 | 23.6 |
December 2021 | 26.4 |
November 2021 | 24.2 |
October 2021 | 14.4 |
September 2021 | 14.1 |
It is not possible to provide figures for the number of people specifically working to process driving licence applications and deal with driving licence application enquiries on applications, as most DVLA operational roles require staff members to carry out a range of tasks.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data his Department holds on the number of driving licence applications currently awaiting processing from applicants in (a) Cynon Valley constituency and (b) Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Information on the number of driving licence applications awaiting processing is not held by region. The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and at its new customer service centre in Birmingham. These measures are having a positive impact, the number of paper applications awaiting processing has reduced significantly and customers should continue to see an improving picture in terms of waiting times.
Applications where the driver has a medical condition that must be investigated before a licence can be issued will take longer. However, the majority of applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet the criteria outlined here.
Since 1 April 2020, the DVLA’s contact centre has recruited and trained 166 staff with 20 more due to join in March and a further 150 being recruited who will start their training between May and July. In addition, the DVLA’s new customer service centres in Swansea and Birmingham have already recruited 181 of up to 300 staff who are being trained to process medical driving licence applications as well as supporting customers who have contacted the DVLA by phone.
Once a caller has been connected to the queue to speak to a DVLA advisor about a driving licence application, the average waiting time over the last six months is shown in the table below.
Month | Waiting time in minutes |
February 2022 | 14.4 |
January 2022 | 23.6 |
December 2021 | 26.4 |
November 2021 | 24.2 |
October 2021 | 14.4 |
September 2021 | 14.1 |
It is not possible to provide figures for the number of people specifically working to process driving licence applications and deal with driving licence application enquiries on applications, as most DVLA operational roles require staff members to carry out a range of tasks.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is taking to protect the safety of staff in the Swansea office from covid-19.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The safety and welfare of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) staff is of paramount importance as it has been throughout the pandemic. Extensive measures are in place to support the safety and wellbeing of staff and information on the services available to staff is regularly communicated.
The DVLA has invested £5.7 million in making its offices as Covid secure as possible. The DVLA has carried out risk assessments on the estate, individual risk assessments for staff and regular lateral flow tests are offered to all staff working on site. Social distancing measures are in place, as are one-way systems, temperature checking, increased signage and communications for regular and thorough hand-washing. Personal protective equipment is also available to staff where appropriate.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the inclusion of (a) international aviation and (b) shipping emissions in the Sixth Carbon Budget.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Ministers have regular discussions about our ambitions for the Sixth Carbon Budget and net zero target.
International aviation and shipping emissions are a global issue that require a global solution. Aviation and shipping have a crucial role to play in reaching net zero emissions globally, which is why the UK is leading the way to develop measures at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
This globally-coordinated, sector-based approach reflects the highly mobile nature of carbon emissions from these sectors and the risk that carbon emissions are simply moved to other jurisdictions in response to individual states taking unilateral action. We have not ruled out including international aviation and shipping emissions in legislation at a later date, subject to progress at the IMO and ICAO.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect on the economy of potential industrial action at Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Robert Courts
The Government does not comment or speculate on future industrial action.
Employers should always treat employees fairly and in a spirit of partnership. When considering workforce restructures as a result of the on-going impacts of COVID-19 we encourage employers across the sector to continue to approach this issue with a sensitivity and professionalism that reflects the hard work and dedication of their employees, openly engaging with their workforce and unions in a transparent and consultative way.
The Government recognises that, despite the measures we have put in place to protect the economy, there remain serious challenges for the aviation sector and for the communities that serve them. We are focused on restarting the sector, and companies have access to a range of unprecedented government financial support.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the proposals in the Unite the Union report entitled UK Aviation: Flying into the Future; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and the government recognises the challenging times facing the sector?as a result of?COVID-19. The Department for Transport has kept an open dialogue with the aviation sector including unions, through engagement on both Ministerial and official levels.
Unite are members of the Department’s International Aviation Taskforce’s industry Expert Steering Group, established to bring together all interested parties to co-produce solutions to the issues facing the sector. The Group are best placed to identify and support what practical steps are required to restart the industry, as well as to consider what longer term steps are required to full-sector recovery.