Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to driving tests for young people in Mid Cheshire constituency, in the context of levels of (a) waiting times and (b) local availability.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.

DVSA continues with recruitment at driving test centres (DTCs) that serve customers in Mid Cheshire. From recent recruitment campaigns, DVSA has had four new entrant driving examiners (DE), which allow more deployments into Northwich DTC.

A current recruitment campaign is ongoing and will close later this month.

DVSA is committed to providing its customers, including those in rural areas, with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.

The Department for Transport (DfT), or any of its agencies, has no mechanism for providing financial support to help young people, including those in rural areas, with the cost of learning to drive. DVSA does not employ driving instructors and so has no power or control over what they charge for their services, including lessons.