Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has provided guidance to local planning authorities on whether recreational routes associated with major residential developments should accommodate all non-motorised users, including horse riders and people with restricted mobility.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance public rights of way and access, including taking opportunities to provide better facilities for users, for example by adding links to existing rights of way networks including National Trails.
The NPPF is also clear that applications for development should address the needs of people with disabilities and reduced mobility in relation to all modes of transport.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to promoting sustainable transport.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving examiners ceased to practice in each month from July 2024 to the latest month for which figures are available.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) driving examiners (DE) who left the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in each month from July 2024 to February 2026. This data includes all DEs who have left including, for example, new DEs that were unsuccessful in completing the training process.
Month/Year | FTE |
July 2024 | 13.6 |
August 2024 | 17.4 |
September 2024 | 8.3 |
October 2024 | 24.4 |
November 2024 | 16.1 |
December 2024 | 14.8 |
January 2025 | 19.1 |
February 2025 | 25.2 |
March 2025 | 27.0 |
April 2025 | 20.7 |
May 2025 | 17.7 |
June 2025 | 14.3 |
July 2025 | 17.2 |
August 2025 | 16.3 |
September 2025 | 22.9 |
October 2025 | 8.6 |
November 2025 | 14.8 |
December 2025 | 15.2 |
January 2026 | 26.7 |
February 2026 | 12.6 |
The above figures of course do not account for the number of driving examiners who have joined in the same time period.
Examiner capacity is rising, with 1,556 FTE examiners now in post supported by ongoing recruitment and training changes. The 1,556 FTE DEs in February 2026 is an increase of 108 when compared to the number of DEs in February 2025 (1,448 FTEs). These figures do not include potential new DEs who are currently in training.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, a) what assessment her Department has made of the £2.50 fee charged by the DVLA for the release of vehicle keeper data to private parking companies, b) what analysis has been conducted on the volume of keeper data requests made annually by private parking companies, and c) whether her Department has had discussions with the Information Commissioner’s Office regarding oversight of the use of DVLA vehicle keeper data by private parking enforcement firms.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 permits the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to release vehicle keeper details from its vehicle record where the requester can demonstrate reasonable cause to receive it. The fee payable by private sector organisations, including private parking companies, seeking the contact details of the registered keeper of a vehicle is £2.50. The fee is set to recover the cost of providing the information and ensures that the cost is borne by the requester, not passed on to the taxpayer. In line with Managing Public Money, the DVLA reviews its fees regularly to ensure that they are set to recover the costs of providing the service. Any changes would be subject to public consultation and Parliamentary approval.
The number of electronic requests for information for this purpose is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/who-dvla-shares-data-with. Vehicle keeper information is only made available to private parking operators who are members of an appropriate Accredited Trade Association (ATA). The ATAs are responsible for setting and enforcing codes of practice for their members. No analysis is undertaken in respect of the volume of requests made.
The Information Commissioner provided an opinion in 2022 confirming the release of DVLA data for private parking management is lawful and my Department maintains regular contact with the ICO on these matters.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 118043, what the average click-through rate was for driving examiner recruitment campaigns in the last 12 months; and what proportion of those click-throughs resulted in completed applications.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For campaigns up to November 2025, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) used the data available from the civil service recruitment standard applicants survey. This shows which advertising routes generate candidates, however the information does not give 100% coverage.
In December 2025, DVSA introduced a DVSA specific survey. This is sent to everyone who is offered an interview. This is then followed by another survey sent to anyone who successfully moves onto training. DVSA will cross-reference the data from these two surveys going forward, but for now DVSA has data for only one complete and one ongoing campaign.
For DVSA social media advertising the current click through rate as of February 2026 was 1.4%. For direct communications from DVSA to subscribers to DVSA job alerts, over the last 12 months the average click through rate was 4%. It is not possible to say what number of these click throughs resulted in completed applications.
DVSA displays posters in driving test centres as part of a wider mix of recruitment activity. All driving test centres (DTC) have access to a centrally produced recruitment campaign poster to be displayed in their waiting rooms. Posters are displayed only if DVSA is actively recruiting in the area.
The table below shows how many full-time equivalent (FTE) DEs were in post, and out of those, how many were available to deliver practical car driving tests in January and February 2026.
FTE DEs in-post * | Available to deliver practical car driving tests | |
January 2026 | 1,608 | 1,546 |
February 2026 | 1,641 | 1,556 |
* - Includes those who are in training to be a driving examiner
A DE is a paid DVSA employee from the point at which they start their training. The available number is only those who are qualified and who are working at DTCs doing tests. The in-post figure therefore includes those who are in training.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 118043, how many driving test centres display recruitment posters for driving examiner roles.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For campaigns up to November 2025, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) used the data available from the civil service recruitment standard applicants survey. This shows which advertising routes generate candidates, however the information does not give 100% coverage.
In December 2025, DVSA introduced a DVSA specific survey. This is sent to everyone who is offered an interview. This is then followed by another survey sent to anyone who successfully moves onto training. DVSA will cross-reference the data from these two surveys going forward, but for now DVSA has data for only one complete and one ongoing campaign.
For DVSA social media advertising the current click through rate as of February 2026 was 1.4%. For direct communications from DVSA to subscribers to DVSA job alerts, over the last 12 months the average click through rate was 4%. It is not possible to say what number of these click throughs resulted in completed applications.
DVSA displays posters in driving test centres as part of a wider mix of recruitment activity. All driving test centres (DTC) have access to a centrally produced recruitment campaign poster to be displayed in their waiting rooms. Posters are displayed only if DVSA is actively recruiting in the area.
The table below shows how many full-time equivalent (FTE) DEs were in post, and out of those, how many were available to deliver practical car driving tests in January and February 2026.
FTE DEs in-post * | Available to deliver practical car driving tests | |
January 2026 | 1,608 | 1,546 |
February 2026 | 1,641 | 1,556 |
* - Includes those who are in training to be a driving examiner
A DE is a paid DVSA employee from the point at which they start their training. The available number is only those who are qualified and who are working at DTCs doing tests. The in-post figure therefore includes those who are in training.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 118043, what systems the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency uses to track the source of applications for driving examiner roles.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For campaigns up to November 2025, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) used the data available from the civil service recruitment standard applicants survey. This shows which advertising routes generate candidates, however the information does not give 100% coverage.
In December 2025, DVSA introduced a DVSA specific survey. This is sent to everyone who is offered an interview. This is then followed by another survey sent to anyone who successfully moves onto training. DVSA will cross-reference the data from these two surveys going forward, but for now DVSA has data for only one complete and one ongoing campaign.
For DVSA social media advertising the current click through rate as of February 2026 was 1.4%. For direct communications from DVSA to subscribers to DVSA job alerts, over the last 12 months the average click through rate was 4%. It is not possible to say what number of these click throughs resulted in completed applications.
DVSA displays posters in driving test centres as part of a wider mix of recruitment activity. All driving test centres (DTC) have access to a centrally produced recruitment campaign poster to be displayed in their waiting rooms. Posters are displayed only if DVSA is actively recruiting in the area.
The table below shows how many full-time equivalent (FTE) DEs were in post, and out of those, how many were available to deliver practical car driving tests in January and February 2026.
FTE DEs in-post * | Available to deliver practical car driving tests | |
January 2026 | 1,608 | 1,546 |
February 2026 | 1,641 | 1,556 |
* - Includes those who are in training to be a driving examiner
A DE is a paid DVSA employee from the point at which they start their training. The available number is only those who are qualified and who are working at DTCs doing tests. The in-post figure therefore includes those who are in training.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full-time equivalent driving examiners employed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency were (a) in post and (b) delivering practical car driving tests in (i) January 2026 and (ii) February 2026.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For campaigns up to November 2025, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) used the data available from the civil service recruitment standard applicants survey. This shows which advertising routes generate candidates, however the information does not give 100% coverage.
In December 2025, DVSA introduced a DVSA specific survey. This is sent to everyone who is offered an interview. This is then followed by another survey sent to anyone who successfully moves onto training. DVSA will cross-reference the data from these two surveys going forward, but for now DVSA has data for only one complete and one ongoing campaign.
For DVSA social media advertising the current click through rate as of February 2026 was 1.4%. For direct communications from DVSA to subscribers to DVSA job alerts, over the last 12 months the average click through rate was 4%. It is not possible to say what number of these click throughs resulted in completed applications.
DVSA displays posters in driving test centres as part of a wider mix of recruitment activity. All driving test centres (DTC) have access to a centrally produced recruitment campaign poster to be displayed in their waiting rooms. Posters are displayed only if DVSA is actively recruiting in the area.
The table below shows how many full-time equivalent (FTE) DEs were in post, and out of those, how many were available to deliver practical car driving tests in January and February 2026.
FTE DEs in-post * | Available to deliver practical car driving tests | |
January 2026 | 1,608 | 1,546 |
February 2026 | 1,641 | 1,556 |
* - Includes those who are in training to be a driving examiner
A DE is a paid DVSA employee from the point at which they start their training. The available number is only those who are qualified and who are working at DTCs doing tests. The in-post figure therefore includes those who are in training.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the UK Logistics Network report published by Logistics UK in 2024.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is aware of Logistics UK's The UK Logistics Network report (2024) and its subsequent progress tracker report (2025). The department is grateful for Logistics UK’s work and the informative contribution it makes to our evidence base for policy making that supports freight and logistics and the wider transport system.
The report and its recommendations formed part of the evidence base considered for the new plan for freight, which is due to be published later in spring. This will set out the department’s policy priorities for the sector and the actions we will take to support the efficiency of the freight network.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost was of the 1.) Network Railcard, 2.) 16-17 Saver, 3.) 16-25 Railcard, 4.) 26-30 Railcard, 5.) Family & Friends Railcard, 6.) Two Together Railcard, 7.) Senior Railcard, 8.) Disabled Persons Railcard and 9.) Veterans Railcard in each financial year since 2019.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Railcard schemes are run by the Rail Delivery Group, and scheme costs are covered by the revenue generated.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the development and implementation timetable of PAS 2161, the proposed national data standard for road condition monitoring, and what assessment her Department has made of its potential to support more proactive identification of potholes and other road defects by local highway authorities.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
DfT worked with local authorities and the wider highways industry to develop the PAS 2161:2024 Road condition monitoring (RCM) data specification which was published in September 2024, and is available online, at: https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/road-condition-monitoring-rcm-data-specification.
In 2025 DfT carried out the process to approve road condition monitoring technologies for use against PAS 2161 for reporting the condition of the local classified road network in England to DfT. The list of PAS 2161 approved technologies was announced in September 2025 and can be found online, at: https://ukrlg.ciht.org.uk/ukrlg-home/guidance/road-condition-information/data-collection/pas-2161/. The report on the approval process can be found at: https://www.trl.co.uk/publications/pas-2161-road-condition-monitoring-trials-2025-report.
As of April 2026, local authorities will be required to use a PAS 2161 approved technology on their classified road. PAS 2161 compliant data will be collected by DfT for the first time in Spring 2027, upon completion of the surveys for the financial year ending March 2027. Further details of the timeline can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-condition-monitoring-standard-pas-2161/road-condition-monitoring-standard-pas-2161
PAS 2161 will enable local authorities to collect more comparable and consistent condition data on their classified road network. A range of technology types have been approved for use against PAS 2161. Local authorities will be able to choose any PAS 2161 approved technology allowing them to collect the evidence they need to effectively maintain their roads and meet national reporting requirements.