Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Louise Haigh and Bambos Charalambous

Thursday 10th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Bambos Charalambous (Southgate and Wood Green) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking to reduce driving test waiting times.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Louise Haigh)]

Practical driving test waiting times remain far too high after the previous Administration failed to reduce them, limiting would-be drivers’ access to opportunities. I have met the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and driving test examiners, and I have instructed my officials to work at pace to identify solutions to this pervasive problem.

[Bambos Charalambous]

I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State has met the chief executive of the DVSA to discuss urgent solutions to the sky-high driving test waiting times. According to the latest statistics, the waiting time in the Wood Green driving test centre in my constituency was 18.64 weeks. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that this issue is a top priority for the Government, so that my constituents can be reassured that driving test waiting times will be drastically reduced?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Can I just say to Members who have been here a long time, please speak to the Chair? They should be speaking through a third party, not directly. I am trying to take some of the anger out of it. Please work with me on that.