Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Driving Test Waiting Times

Thursday 10 October 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Driving test waiting times in the Wood Green centre are currently 18.64 weeks, above the national average.
  • The Minister met the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to discuss urgent solutions to high waiting times.
  • The Minister will write to Jim Shannon to address the potential impact of delayed practical tests on theory test validity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Transport
Context

The driving test waiting times remain high, particularly in the Wood Green centre where it was reported to be 18.64 weeks.

Question

What steps she is taking to reduce driving test waiting times? According to the latest statistics, the waiting time in the Wood Green driving test centre is currently 18.64 weeks. Will my right hon Friend confirm that this issue is a top priority for the Government so that my constituents can be reassured?

Answer from Louise Haigh

Practical driving test waiting times remain far too high after the previous Administration failed to reduce them. I have met the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and driving test examiners, and instructed my officials to work at pace to identify solutions. Average waiting times at the Wood Green centre currently sit just above the national average. The measures that the DVSA is already taking include conducting tests outside regular hours, at weekends and on public holidays, and deploying more examiners in areas with higher waiting times.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm a specific timeline or concrete action to reduce waiting times beyond current measures.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Transport
Context

The driving test waiting times remain high, particularly in the Wood Green centre where it was reported to be 18.64 weeks.

Question

I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State has met the chief executive of the DVSA to discuss urgent solutions to sky-high driving test waiting times. According to the latest statistics, the waiting time in the Wood Green driving test centre is currently 18.64 weeks. Will my right hon Friend confirm that this issue is a top priority for the Government so that my constituents can be reassured?

Answer from Louise Haigh

I am very grateful to you, Mr Speaker, as I am to my hon. Friend for raising that important question. He is absolutely right. Average waiting times at the Wood Green centre currently sit just above the national average. The measures that the DVSA is already taking include conducting tests outside regular hours, at weekends and on public holidays, and continuing to deploy examiners from areas with lower waiting times. That is in addition to producing additional examiners across the country in areas where waiting times are highest.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm a specific timeline or concrete action beyond current measures to address high waiting times.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS
Context

Waiting times for driving tests continue to be a significant issue.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State very much for that response. Waiting times for tests continue to be a problem. What assessment has been made of the knock-on effect that could occur with the validity of theory tests should delays in practical tests remain and not improve?

Answer from Louise Haigh

I am very grateful to the hon. Member for raising that important issue. I will take it away and write to him.

Not addressed: Did not provide any assessment of the impact on theory test validity or address the question asked directly.

How: Will Take It Away And Write

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email