Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Education and (b) Work and Pensions on the potential impact of driving test backlogs on young people’s access to (i) training and (ii) employment in the South East.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests.

On the 12 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times, and announced further actions.

The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.