Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) opening DVLA outreach offices across the UK, (b) capping the cost of phone calls to DVLA customer services and (c) utilising Freephone services for some or all calls to DVLA customer services.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has recently opened a customer service centre in Birmingham and recruited more staff to help reduce current waiting times and provide future resilience and business continuity. There are no current plans for any further DVLA offices.
The DVLA’s contact centre uses non-geographic, 0300 telephone numbers so that customers are charged at a local call rate whether they use a landline or mobile phone and wherever they are calling from in the United Kingdom. There are no plans to provide freephone services for calls to the DVLA.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that drivers whose licence renewal applications are with DVLA are aware of the provisions of section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working to improve the process for drivers with a medical condition. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.
The DVLA has also recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This new process has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver. The DVLA is looking at adding more medical conditions to this new process.
Detailed guidance for drivers and applicants about driving under section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is published on the GOV.UK website here.
The DVLA advises applicants about this provision when they renew a driving licence online or contact the DVLA by telephone. Information on driving while the DVLA is processing an application is also included on driving licence renewal application forms and reminders and letters sent to applicants, where appropriate.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2021 to Question 87701, what steps he is taking to improve Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency processing times for applications to renew a driving licence following a medical condition.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working to improve the process for drivers with a medical condition. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.
The DVLA has also recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This new process has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver. The DVLA is looking at adding more medical conditions to this new process.
Detailed guidance for drivers and applicants about driving under section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is published on the GOV.UK website here.
The DVLA advises applicants about this provision when they renew a driving licence online or contact the DVLA by telephone. Information on driving while the DVLA is processing an application is also included on driving licence renewal application forms and reminders and letters sent to applicants, where appropriate.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of size of the backlog by test class of (a) theory and (b) practical driving tests in (i) Scotland and (ii) Great Britain; and what estimate he has made of how long it will take to clear each backlog.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) offers a six month window for people to book theory tests, therefore appointments are booked at the times people choose. There is not a backlog of theory tests as there is capacity available for more people to book.
The DVSA recognises the high demand for learners wanting to take their practical driving test following the suspension of routine driver training and testing during the pandemic.
As of 24 January 2022, the number of candidates with a test booked were:
| Car | Bike – Module 1 (off road) | Bike – Module 2 (on road) | Vocational | Driver Certificate of Professional Competence | |||
Scotland |
| 929 | 838 |
|
| |||
Great Britain | 519197 | 12865 | 12161 | 23608 | 977 |
The DVSA is committed to the safe recovery of all its services as quickly as possible and has a number of measures in place to do this. These include offering a national recovery allowance and annual leave buy back to examiners, asking all those qualified to conduct tests, but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and conducting out of hours testing (such as on public holidays and weekends).
The DVSA is also continuing with its campaign to recruit more driving examiners across Great Britain and further increase availability of driving test appointments.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Leader of the House of Commons of 2 December 2021, Official Report, column 1064, what the target timescale for processing postal items received by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is; and what proportion of items received by the DVLA are processed within that timescale as at 6 December 2021.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to make an application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to use its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents 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. The DVLA usually aims to process paper applications within three weeks but they are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper applications can be found here.
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 Birmingham. The DVLA has reconfigured its accommodation to safely maximise the number of staff on site and is working hard to process paper applications as quickly as possible.
Together with the ending of industrial action at the DVLA, these measures are having a positive impact. In particular, the focus on vocational driving licence applications to support the HGV driver shortage has been successful with routine vocational applications now being processed within normal turnaround times of five working days. The remaining queues are reducing, and customers will continue to see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Leader of the House of Commons of 2 December 2021, Official Report, column 1064, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements in place at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for handling postal items received during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to make an application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to use its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents 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. The DVLA usually aims to process paper applications within three weeks but they are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed. The latest information on turnaround times for paper applications can be found here.
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 Birmingham. The DVLA has reconfigured its accommodation to safely maximise the number of staff on site and is working hard to process paper applications as quickly as possible.
Together with the ending of industrial action at the DVLA, these measures are having a positive impact. In particular, the focus on vocational driving licence applications to support the HGV driver shortage has been successful with routine vocational applications now being processed within normal turnaround times of five working days. The remaining queues are reducing, and customers will continue to see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the shortage of HGV drivers across the UK; and what consultation has taken place with representatives of the road haulage industry in connection with that assessment.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department for Transport is working across Government and with the road haulage industry to address the current HGV driver shortage, which is an issue affecting many countries worldwide. For example, the International Road Transport Union predicts a gap of 185,000 drivers by 2027 in Germany. Current trade association estimates of the UK driver shortage range from 85,000 to 90,000. The current shortage includes both a chronic, long-term, component and an acute element. The Office for National Statistics estimates the number of drivers to be 268,000 in the 12 months ending June 2021, which is 39,000 fewer than the year ending June 2019.
The Department has held regular meetings with the road haulage industry and trade unions regarding driver shortages and its impact on supply chains The Government has taken decisive action to address the acute driver shortage, with 30 specific measures already taken to support driver training, increase the availability of driving tests and improve the standard and availability of roadside facilities. These measures are working. There is no backlog of HGV licence applications and we are seeing over a thousand more people than normal apply for a licence each week.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 October 2021 on Motor Vehicle Driving Licences, HCWS311, if he will publish (a) details of the 25 measures taken to reduce the impact of the shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers on the people of Britain and (b) his plans to monitor the effectiveness of those measures.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Following 18 October, the Government announced a further five measures to address the impacts of the heavy goods vehicle driver shortage and published details of the 30 measures on 10 November on the GOV.UK website. To monitor the effectiveness of measures, we continually examine key metrics of performance and engage with industry and across Government where appropriate.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2021 to Question 56327, on Driving: Qualifications, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of changing the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence process to help tackle the shortage of HGV drivers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Government continues to explore a range of options to help tackle the shortage of HGV drivers and has put in place 28 interventions to date. The role and impact of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence will be kept under review. The current requirements are heavily influenced by legislation inherited from the EU.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will convene an HGV driver taskforce to (a) increase infrastructure investment and improve conditions on the motorway networks, including investment in lorry parking and truck stops and (b) promote haulage as a career with a more diverse workforce.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Government recognises the need to ensure hauliers have access to appropriate services and facilities. This week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £32.5 million of investment in roadside facilities for HGV drivers.
The Department will continue to engage with key stakeholders to encourage the development of more safe, secure, and high-quality lorry parking to improve driver welfare.
The Government is also aware of the demographic imbalances in the HGV driver workforce including the lack of women drivers, under 25s and drivers from ethnic minorities. Addressing these issues and creating a workforce that will better reflect society will be key to permanently solving the driver shortage.
This will be for the industry to lead on but the Government will continue to support where it can, such as improving the accessibility of facilities for women drivers and increasing the provision of overnight lorry parking.