Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to work with transport operators to mitigate the risks posed by cyber attacks.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport (DfT) works across Government to introduce relevant standards, guidance, and policy to ensure the cyber security and resilience of our essential services.
DfT uses both policy and regulatory levers to support the transport sector to effectively manage cyber risk and assist the sector to secure its networks and systems. We work closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), operators across all four modes of transport, and others to continuously assess and mitigate emerging cyber threats to the sector.
As Competent Authority under the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 for road, rail and maritime and joint Competent Authority for aviation with the Civil Aviation Authority, DfT regulates transport Operators of Essential Services (OES) to ensure that services which are most critical to the British public are compliant with relevant cyber standards. We will use the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSRB) to strengthen our regulatory powers, improve incident reporting, and expand the type of entities in scope.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the terms of reference are of her Department’s investigation into the possible use of defeat devices by automotive manufacturers; how many brands and models are in the scope of the investigation; when she expects that investigation to conclude; and what steps her Department is considering taking against manufacturers who have been found to have broken the rules.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The DVSA’s investigations are being conducted under their obligations as the delegated the market surveillance authority within Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
There are currently 95 vehicle models from 28 brands under investigation.
Due to the nature of the investigations, it is not possible to say when they are expected to conclude.
The investigations are focused on achieving real-world improvements in air quality. Non-compliant manufacturers will be required to rectify their vehicles and bring them into compliance with the relevant emissions regulations. If enforcement action is required, it will be taken in line with DVSA’s published enforcement policy.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
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 the Home Department on reducing the level of bike thefts.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State for Transport has not had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on reducing the level of bike thefts but I am aware that cycle theft is a major problem, particularly where expensive cycles are concerned, and that the fear of having a bike stolen can act as a serious deterrent to those who might otherwise want to take up cycling.
Active Travel England is providing funding for local authorities to introduce secure cycle parking. Ultimately, enforcement of cycle theft is an operational matter for the police.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2024 to Question 6277, what progress her Department has made on agreeing an exchange agreement with Kosovo.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has obtained further information that was required from the Kosovan Embassy to progress a driving licence exchange agreement with Kosovo. This agreement remains subject to public consultation and the introduction of domestic legislation and this work is ongoing.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Q146 of the oral evidence given by the Secretary of State to the Transport Committee on 23 April 2025, HC 346, when the National Highways’ safety action plan for 2025-26 will be published.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The safety action plan will form part of National Highways 2025-26 delivery plan for the Interim Settlement which will be published in the coming months.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of seeking an agreement with the European Union on the mutual recognition of (a) qualifications and (b) licenses for (i) pilots, (ii) flight crew and (iii) aircraft engineers.
Answered by Mike Kane
The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. Establishing an effective personnel licensing regime that supports UK aviation remains a priority for us, and the UK is keen to establish closer cooperation on personnel licensing where possible to ease the current burden on UK and EU personnel.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 33910, how many staff were employed at the Fraud team at the DVSA at the end of (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022 and (e) 2023.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The table below shows the number of people employed within the Counter Fraud & Investigation team at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for the years ending 2019 to 2024.
Year-end | Headcount | Full Time Equivalent (FTE) |
Dec 2019 | 48 | 47.26 |
Dec 2020 | 48 | 46.47 |
Dec 2021 | 50 | 49.25 |
Dec 2022 | 48 | 47.25 |
Dec 2023 | 48 | 47.6 |
Dec 2024 | 65* | 59* |
*In 2024-25, the team dedicated to investigating fraud in the driver theory and practical test schemes was doubled as a result of additional funding provided by the Department for Transport.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people worked at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022, (e) 2023 and (f) 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are 65 people employed within the Counter Fraud & Investigations team at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This team work directly on the investigation of fraud in various areas of DVSA’s work such as the car practical and theory test, commercial vehicles and MOT.
There are other teams within DVSA that are involved in its investigative and enforcement activities such as:
traffic examiners who stop vehicles at the roadside
market surveillance teams who investigate aftermarket goods
intelligence unit staff who process and investigate information we receive on fraudulent activity.
commercial vehicle team
DVSA actively encourage and remind all colleagues to report, via the appropriate channels, any suspected fraudulent activity they encounter.
The table below shows the number of car practical tests conducted (tests which have been passed or failed) in England per calendar year, for the years 2019 to 2024. Please note, for data on conducted tests in 2024, DVSA can currently only publish data up to the end of September 2024.
Year | Car Tests Conducted |
2019 | 1,625,579 |
2020 | 809,509 |
2021 | 1,113,735 |
2022 | 1,667,935 |
2023 | 1,831,588 |
2024 as of 30 September | 1,479,177 |
The table below shows the number of people employed at DVSA for the years 2019 to 2024.
Year End | Headcount | Full Time Equivalent (FTE) |
December 2019 | 4752 | 4472.26 |
December 2020 | 4733 | 4455.94 |
December 2021 | 4869 | 4597.43 |
December 2022 | 4911 | 4630.77 |
December 2023 | 4944 | 4629.97 |
December 2024 | 4881 | 4563.05 |
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving tests were taken in England in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022, (e) 2023 and (f) 2024.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are 65 people employed within the Counter Fraud & Investigations team at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This team work directly on the investigation of fraud in various areas of DVSA’s work such as the car practical and theory test, commercial vehicles and MOT.
There are other teams within DVSA that are involved in its investigative and enforcement activities such as:
traffic examiners who stop vehicles at the roadside
market surveillance teams who investigate aftermarket goods
intelligence unit staff who process and investigate information we receive on fraudulent activity.
commercial vehicle team
DVSA actively encourage and remind all colleagues to report, via the appropriate channels, any suspected fraudulent activity they encounter.
The table below shows the number of car practical tests conducted (tests which have been passed or failed) in England per calendar year, for the years 2019 to 2024. Please note, for data on conducted tests in 2024, DVSA can currently only publish data up to the end of September 2024.
Year | Car Tests Conducted |
2019 | 1,625,579 |
2020 | 809,509 |
2021 | 1,113,735 |
2022 | 1,667,935 |
2023 | 1,831,588 |
2024 as of 30 September | 1,479,177 |
The table below shows the number of people employed at DVSA for the years 2019 to 2024.
Year End | Headcount | Full Time Equivalent (FTE) |
December 2019 | 4752 | 4472.26 |
December 2020 | 4733 | 4455.94 |
December 2021 | 4869 | 4597.43 |
December 2022 | 4911 | 4630.77 |
December 2023 | 4944 | 4629.97 |
December 2024 | 4881 | 4563.05 |
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people are working on issues relating to fraud at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are 65 people employed within the Counter Fraud & Investigations team at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This team work directly on the investigation of fraud in various areas of DVSA’s work such as the car practical and theory test, commercial vehicles and MOT.
There are other teams within DVSA that are involved in its investigative and enforcement activities such as:
traffic examiners who stop vehicles at the roadside
market surveillance teams who investigate aftermarket goods
intelligence unit staff who process and investigate information we receive on fraudulent activity.
commercial vehicle team
DVSA actively encourage and remind all colleagues to report, via the appropriate channels, any suspected fraudulent activity they encounter.
The table below shows the number of car practical tests conducted (tests which have been passed or failed) in England per calendar year, for the years 2019 to 2024. Please note, for data on conducted tests in 2024, DVSA can currently only publish data up to the end of September 2024.
Year | Car Tests Conducted |
2019 | 1,625,579 |
2020 | 809,509 |
2021 | 1,113,735 |
2022 | 1,667,935 |
2023 | 1,831,588 |
2024 as of 30 September | 1,479,177 |
The table below shows the number of people employed at DVSA for the years 2019 to 2024.
Year End | Headcount | Full Time Equivalent (FTE) |
December 2019 | 4752 | 4472.26 |
December 2020 | 4733 | 4455.94 |
December 2021 | 4869 | 4597.43 |
December 2022 | 4911 | 4630.77 |
December 2023 | 4944 | 4629.97 |
December 2024 | 4881 | 4563.05 |