Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department made a comparative assessment of the effectiveness of (a) driver licensing and (b) vehicle registration requirements on (i) Ukrainian nationals with refugee status and (ii) other temporary overseas visitors resident in the UK.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
In recognition of the challenges their country faces in the fight against Russian aggression, it is my intention, wherever possible, to treat Ukrainian refugees as favourably as possible, rather than in the same way as other temporary residents.
Foreign registered vehicles brought temporarily into the UK by non-UK residents must generally be registered with the DVLA and issued with UK number plates to enable enforcement and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.
In November this Department and associated agencies (DVLA, DVSA and VCA) acknowledged the unique nature of Ukrainians arrival in the UK and made provision to allow some temporary modifications to be made to vehicles, within existing legislation, in certain circumstances where an IVA is required, for example by allowing the use of beam deflector stickers. This decision was made to balance Ukrainians’ unique circumstances, whilst importantly ensuring road safety for all other drivers and road users. Dedicated Department for Transport (DfT) personnel have also been assigned to support Ukrainians who wish to register their vehicle, and the DfT has published detailed guidance to clearly outline the process. The dedicated resource can be accessed by contacting DVLA, DVSA or VCA as appropriate depending on the nature of the enquiry and as outlined in the guidance.
My Department continues to explore options for how it can support the Ukrainian community in the UK, and officials are also working across Whitehall to identify action that can be taken in relation to temporary admission and vehicle registration.
With regards to Driving licenses, my Department is exploring options to enable those Ukrainians that fled here to be able to continue to use their Ukrainian driving licences for longer, and minimise the administrative burden they face and will keep this House and the Ukrainian community in the UK updated on this work.
Asked by: Lord Wills (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficiency savings that could be achieved from a DVLA database of registered non-GB driving licences which could be accessed by employers.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not hold details of all non-GB driving licence holders and there are no plans for such a database to be created.
Asked by: Patricia Gibson (Scottish National Party - North Ayrshire and Arran)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on taking steps to review the conditions to apply for a driving licence for (a) newly-settled Ukrainians and (b) other non-UK nationals living in the UK so they are able to apply for (i) bus driver and (ii) jobs in other sectors in which there are a shortage of drivers.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
All non-UK nationals who are normally and lawfully resident in GB can apply for a provisional licence to drive buses and lorries. All applicants must hold a GB licence to drive cars, provide proof of identity and meet medical and conduct standards. Non-UK nationals will need to provide evidence that they have leave to remain in the UK.
Lorry and bus licences issued by EEA countries can be exchanged for the GB equivalent, as can licences issued in Switzerland for some categories of lorry and bus. Officials are progressing the work needed to introduce an exchange arrangement for Ukrainian lorry and bus licences as soon as possible. Exchange agreements are also being progressed with other countries.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring that no foreign national resident in the UK is prevented from travelling overseas because their passports is being held by DVLA outside the agreed timescale for processing provisional driving licence applications.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The DVLA recognises the importance to applicants of having possession of their identity documents for a range of reasons, including overseas travel.
The DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited additional staff, and secured extra office space to help reduce waiting times. DVLA staff are working as quickly as possible to return people’s documentation to them when processing a driving licence application.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for returning passports to foreign nationals applying for provisional driving licences; and what steps he is taking to help ensure those timeframes are met.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is currently processing can be found here. The DVLA is changing its procedures to return identity documents to customers earlier in the process, given the importance of these documents to applicants.
Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend the period in which the holders of foreign driving licences may drive lawfully in the UK to reflect delays in availability of driving tests.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are no plans to extend the period for which holders of international driving licences can drive in GB using that licence.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is adding new capacity to the system all the time and shorter notice tests do become available as customers cancel booked tests.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2021 to Question 145054 on Driving Licences: Foreign Nationals, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to further extend the 12-month period for which holders of foreign driving licences can drive in Great Britain using that licence.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government does not intend to bring forward legislation to extend the period for which holders of foreign driving licences can drive in GB using that licence.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend the validity of driving licences for foreign nationals from the US who are eligible to drive in the UK for 12 months before requiring a theory test in the context of disruption caused by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
After becoming resident in Great Britain, foreign licence holders from outside the European Economic Area can drive all classes of small vehicle, motorcycle and moped to which their domestic licence applies for up to 12 months. After this time, unless they have a licence from certain designated countries/territories, they are required to take a GB driving test. A list of the designated countries can be found here. The 12-month limit is set in law and there are no current plans to change it.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will extend the validity of driving licences for foreign nationals who are eligible to drive in the UK for 12 months before requiring a theory test, in the context of disruption caused by the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are no plans to extend the 12-month period for which holders of foreign driving licences can drive in Great Britain using that licence. To continue driving after the 12-month period the driver must either exchange their licence, if it was issued by a country which has been designated for licence exchange purposes, or apply for a provisional driving licence and pass both a theory and practical driving test.
Where the UK has reached an agreement with an EU Member State on Recognition and Exchange, the UK will continue to recognise extended EU driving licences from 1 January 2021.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to extend the grace period for non-GB driving licence holders so they can continue to drive in the UK while driving tests have been suspended.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
There are no plans to extend the 12-month period for which holders of foreign driving licences can drive in Great Britain using that licence. To continue driving after the 12-month period the driver must either exchange their licence, if it was issued by a country which has been designated for licence exchange purposes, or apply for a provisional driving licence and pass both a theory and practical driving test.
In line with the government’s recent roadmap announcement, practical and theory driving tests will resume no earlier than 12 April. Driving test candidates affected by the suspension in testing are automatically being booked onto the next available test at their chosen centre. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will increase the number of driving tests available through extended operating hours and prioritising practical driving tests. A recruitment campaign is also underway to increase the number of driving examiners.
The DVSA is currently offering a very limited testing service for mobile emergency workers who are required to drive in their role.