Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce a licensing and accreditation scheme for technicians working on electric and automated vehicles.

The Government does not currently have any plans to introduce a licensing and accreditation scheme for technicians working on electric and automated vehicles. However, the Department recognises the need to develop servicing skills to support the UK’s transition to these vehicles. With regards to electric vehicles, the 2020 Vision for English Apprenticeships supports an industry-led approach to skills training that allows employers to lead on new apprenticeship standards. The establishment of the employer-led Institute for Apprenticeships and the introduction of an employer levy fund provides an opportunity for these sectors to shape the development of training programmes to meet the skills needs they have identified.

It is too early to develop a training, licensing, and accreditation scheme for automated vehicles. We will continue to liaise with the relevant technology and professional bodies; as automated vehicle technology matures, we will be able to consider if such a scheme would be suitable, and what, if any, Government intervention would be needed.