Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 122545 on Vehicle Certification Agency: Fees and Charges, when she will respond to the consultation on the proposed fee increases.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The VCA expects to respond to the consultation within the standard 12-week timeframe.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency holds on the recruitment funnel for driving examiner roles, including (a) impressions, (b) click-throughs, (c) applications started, (d) applications completed, (e) candidates interviewed, (f) candidates appointed, and (g) candidates completing training, in the most recent 12-month period for which data is available.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Please see the answer to question 122525.

The table below shows the total number of applications, total completed applications DVSA received, the number of applicants invited to interview, the number of applicants invited to the driving assessment stage, applicants recruited and placed on a training course and how many applicants successfully passed training in 2025:

For any recruitment campaign a candidate must complete the application on Civil Service Jobs by the application deadline. If a candidate starts the initial application but does not complete it, this application will not be considered as part of the final sift of applications.

The data on applicants recruited and placed on training courses, and applicants who successfully passed training, is the total number for the calendar year, and does not necessarily represent when applicants entered the recruitment process. For example, an applicant might have been recruited onto a training course in 2024 but did pass the training course until 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 122594, when (a) Winslow station will be fully handed over and (b) future staffing arrangements will be agreed.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Chiltern is continuing to work closely with its partners and the Department to conclude the remaining train, infrastructure and staff issues and a start date for the first East West Rail services will be announced as soon as it is possible to do so.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122220 on DfT Operator, how many staff will remain within the Department undertaking rail policy functions following the transfer to DfT Operator Ltd; and what assessment she has made of the Department’s capacity to act as an intelligent client of that body.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Following the transfer of staff to DFTO on 1st April, the Department for Transport has 485 FTE undertaking rail functions - from rail reform to major projects sponsorship.

Robust and tested sponsorship arrangements have been implemented, enabling the Department to operate as an 'intelligent client' to DFTO. These arrangements establish clear lines of engagement and provide a consistent framework through which specialist policy and client teams can deliver coherent, expert advice which will be an important foundation for the future with Great British Railways.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned annual expenditure profile is for the £1 billion Zero Emission Truck and Van funding package.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The schemes included in the zero emission commercial vehicle package announced on 25 March are demand led. The Government has not set out annual budgets on all schemes across all financial years to maximise flexibility in meeting the evolving needs of the zero emission transition, and to prevent speculation on remaining funds that could lead to market distorting behaviour. The Depot Charging Scheme has committed to a budget of £28 million in the 26/27 FY and £38 million in the 27/28 FY.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122319, on Driving Tests: Vacancies, if she will provide, for each recruitment campaign undertaken by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in each of the last three financial years, details of (a) the campaign name, intended audience and description, (b) the channels used, (c) the geographic areas targeted and (d) the job roles advertised.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The table below details: the campaign name, channels used and the geographic areas targeted for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) 10 driving examiner recruitment campaigns in the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years. In terms of the intended audience, all campaigns aim to target the widest group that could be interested. DVSA advertises all driving examiner vacancies on Civil Service Jobs on GOV.UK. DVSA also uses posters in driving test centres and external online job sites to reach a wider pool of applicants.

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II