Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the anticipated response time is for DVLA queries from hon. Members or their offices regarding constituents' concerns.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to answer 95 per cent of hon. Members correspondence within eight working days. The impact of the pandemic and industrial action taken by the Public and Commercial Services union last year has resulted in delays in processing applications and a subsequent increase in correspondence. Correspondence relating to vehicle or enforcements work are all currently being answered within the timescale. Correspondence relating to drivers or drivers’ medical concerns are outside this target. For example in February 2022, the DVLA answered over 80 per cent of hon. Members correspondence in 20 working days.

The DVLA has allocated extra resource to the teams that deal with these enquiries and this is showing an improving picture. The DVLA also offers hon. Members a dedicated phone line for their use.