Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to improve driving test availability in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it takes decisive action to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce driving test waiting times across the country. Information on these actions and progress on the plan can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month.  

DVSA is continuing to recruit as many driving examiners as possible. Following successful completion of training, one new driving examiner will be joining Shrewsbury test centre, and this will help deliver more tests in the area. DVSA currently has a live recruitment campaign which is recruiting for additional driving examiners at Shrewsbury and Telford test centres. The campaign closed on 22 September.