Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance has been issued to Jobcentre Plus on promoting DVSA driving examiner vacancies to suitable jobseekers; what activity Jobcentre Plus has undertaken to advertise or proactively match candidates to these roles; and how many referrals to DVSA driving examiner recruitment have been made via Jobcentre Plus in each of the last two years.

Jobcentre Plus (JCP) actively promotes vacancies, including roles with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), by matching a claimant’s skills and circumstances to available roles.

The DWP’s Strategic Relationship Team is working with the DVSA to test a new recruitment approach for Driving Examiner roles in six priority locations. This work involves the introduction of a one day assessment centre under a Direct Temporary Recruitment (DTR) model to create a faster and more efficient process. Part of this process will include JCP Work Coaches identifying suitable candidates, arranging informal discussions and driving assessments.

Locations deemed as priority sites by DVSA are Bedford, Bletchley, Bromley, Slough, Southampton and Tottenham in North London. Across theses initial pilot sites there will be at least 30 vacancies and capacity for up to 96 referrals.

The pilot will help determine whether this streamlined route can support areas that have been hardest to recruit for and whether it should be expanded to additional locations in future.