Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to increase capacity for (a) practical and (b) theory driving tests throughout the UK to tackle backlogs accrued as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

From 14 September 2020, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) extended the period in which practical driving tests are available to book from six to eighteen weeks ahead between 14 September 2020 and the end of 21 January 2021. This has added up to 375,000 new and rescheduled tests. As well as increasing available tests up to 18 weeks ahead, from 19 October 2020, driving examiners will be conducting six car tests a day rather than five. This will help to reduce the backlog for candidates wanting to book a practical driving test in the UK, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Theory tests in England resumed on 4 July 2020 and in Wales they resumed on 3 August, with new social distancing and safety precautions in place. Theory test centres in England and Wales have reduced social distancing to one metre plus, which has increased the number of theory tests available. Theory tests in Scotland resumed on 22 July. The DVSA’s ability to increase theory testing capacity in Scotland is being affected by the current social distancing rules of two metres. Since 4 July 2020, the DVSA has delivered 406,395 theory tests in England, Scotland and Wales.

Testing capacity has now increased across all the 151 theory test sites in England, Scotland and Wales, where the DVSA is able to do so, and the number of theory tests sites available has also increased to a total of 172 across the UK, with an increase of four more theory test sites in England and seven more theory test sites available in the more remote areas of Scotland. In Wales there are currently 10 open sites.

The DVSA will continue to provide regular updates on its Twitter and Facebook pages whilst the booking service is live to keep everyone updated on the availability of driving tests. It has also created an information page on GOV.UK that is updated every half an hour where candidates can check the availability of tests at their local test centre.