The Minister acknowledged the debate's importance and the resultant challenges for learners and instructors. She explained that the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 mandates a two-year validity period for theory test certificates, which ensures current road safety knowledge. While understanding the frustration, she stressed the necessity to protect new drivers' safety, citing statistical evidence of collision rates among novices. She differentiated between extending MOT expiry dates and driving theory tests due to distinct legislative frameworks and risks involved. The Minister also outlined measures being taken by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to increase test availability once it is safe to resume, including extended booking windows and exploring overtime opportunities for examiners. However, she maintained that waiving fees would not be appropriate without a clear justification from taxpayers' perspective. She assured that refund policies are in place for practical tests if they were booked before the theory certificate expiry. The Minister concluded by reiterating her commitment to road safety standards and promised continued engagement on this issue.