Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average wait time is for a driving test at the a) Stranraer, b) Newton Stewart and c) Castle Douglas driving test centres.

The average waiting time for a practical driving test at Stranraer, Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas is 24 weeks.

These test centres are all remote outstations served by driving examiners from the main test centres of Stranraer and Newton Stewart one day a week each. Castle Douglas is served by driving examiners from Dumfries two days a week.

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 in GB. Further information on the measures announced can be found on GOV.uk.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. A full-time driving examiner can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.