Written questions by Pinkerton.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the number of young people involved in serious road traffic collisions in Surrey Heath constituency.

Whilst my Department has not met with any road safety organisations in the Surrey Heath constituency, we keep in regular contact with a range of road safety stakeholders across the country. We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign. We are considering other measures to address this and protect young and newly qualified drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing additional safeguards for newly qualified drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.

Whilst my Department has not met with any road safety organisations in the Surrey Heath constituency, we keep in regular contact with a range of road safety stakeholders across the country. We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign. We are considering other measures to address this and protect young and newly qualified drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of protections in place for homes situated next to Farnborough Airport in the context of expansion proposals.

Assessment of the adequacy of protections for homes situated next to Farnborough Airport is a matter for Rushmoor Borough Council as the local planning authority responsible for considering the airport’s planning application for expansion.

How many people were (a) injured and (b) killed in road traffic accidents in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency in each year since 2020.

The number of people injured and killed in reported road traffic collisions in the county of Surrey and the parliamentary constituency of Surrey Heath per year since 2020 are shown in the table: YearLocationInjuredKilled2020Surrey2,881282021Surrey3,150252022Surrey3,600312023Surrey3,482232024Surrey3,096252020Surrey Heath26412021Surrey Heath26042022Surrey Heath25242023Surrey Heath26422024Surrey Heath2588

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of negotiating regulatory alignment with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

The Government has been clear that it will work to reset the relationship with Europe, strengthen ties, and tackle barriers to trade. As part of this, the Government is continuing to seek expansions to the Aviation Safety Chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) where appropriate. We remain committed to establishing closer cooperation with the EU where possible.

What estimate her Department has made of the administrative costs incurred by motorists when resolving cases of (a) cloned and (b) misused registration marks.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and the potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). The DVLA is currently considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. The DVLA is also part of the British Standard Institute (BSI) committee that has recently reviewed the current standard for number plates. The proposed amendments are intended to stop the production of number plates with raised characters and will prevent easy access to plates with ‘ghost’ characteristics. The proposals will also prevent suppliers from adding acrylic letters and numbers to the surface of the number, meaning any finished number plate must be flat. The proposed changes are currently subject to a public consultation that closes on 13 December 2025 and can be found online at https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2025-01059. No estimate has been made of the administrative costs incurred by motorists when resolving cases of (a) cloned and (b) misused registration marks. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. The table also includes the number of replacement vehicle registration numbers the DVLA has issued following receipt of these notifications. Replacement registration numbers are provided free of charge but the purchase of new number plates is the responsibility of the registered keeper. It is important to note that potential cloning is just one of the possible reasons why someone might receive such correspondence. A proportion of these cases will have been made as a result of errors for example, where a vehicle registration number has been entered incorrectly. Information about how many of these cases resulted in penalties, fines or enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists is not held.Calendar YearNumber of reportsNumber of replacement VRNs20207,37711220217,4306120227,83710120239,84887202410,4611362025 (to 31/10)9,385137

Whether her Department plans to review the regulatory framework for vehicle number plate suppliers to tackle (a) the production of ghost plates and (b) number plate cloning.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and the potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). The DVLA is currently considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. The DVLA is also part of the British Standard Institute (BSI) committee that has recently reviewed the current standard for number plates. The proposed amendments are intended to stop the production of number plates with raised characters and will prevent easy access to plates with ‘ghost’ characteristics. The proposals will also prevent suppliers from adding acrylic letters and numbers to the surface of the number, meaning any finished number plate must be flat. The proposed changes are currently subject to a public consultation that closes on 13 December 2025 and can be found online at https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2025-01059. No estimate has been made of the administrative costs incurred by motorists when resolving cases of (a) cloned and (b) misused registration marks. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. The table also includes the number of replacement vehicle registration numbers the DVLA has issued following receipt of these notifications. Replacement registration numbers are provided free of charge but the purchase of new number plates is the responsibility of the registered keeper. It is important to note that potential cloning is just one of the possible reasons why someone might receive such correspondence. A proportion of these cases will have been made as a result of errors for example, where a vehicle registration number has been entered incorrectly. Information about how many of these cases resulted in penalties, fines or enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists is not held.Calendar YearNumber of reportsNumber of replacement VRNs20207,37711220217,4306120227,83710120239,84887202410,4611362025 (to 31/10)9,385137

How many motorists have paid for replacement vehicle registration plates as a result of (a) number plate cloning and (b) number plate misuse in each year since 2020.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and the potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). The DVLA is currently considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. The DVLA is also part of the British Standard Institute (BSI) committee that has recently reviewed the current standard for number plates. The proposed amendments are intended to stop the production of number plates with raised characters and will prevent easy access to plates with ‘ghost’ characteristics. The proposals will also prevent suppliers from adding acrylic letters and numbers to the surface of the number, meaning any finished number plate must be flat. The proposed changes are currently subject to a public consultation that closes on 13 December 2025 and can be found online at https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2025-01059. No estimate has been made of the administrative costs incurred by motorists when resolving cases of (a) cloned and (b) misused registration marks. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. The table also includes the number of replacement vehicle registration numbers the DVLA has issued following receipt of these notifications. Replacement registration numbers are provided free of charge but the purchase of new number plates is the responsibility of the registered keeper. It is important to note that potential cloning is just one of the possible reasons why someone might receive such correspondence. A proportion of these cases will have been made as a result of errors for example, where a vehicle registration number has been entered incorrectly. Information about how many of these cases resulted in penalties, fines or enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists is not held.Calendar YearNumber of reportsNumber of replacement VRNs20207,37711220217,4306120227,83710120239,84887202410,4611362025 (to 31/10)9,385137

How many cases of number plate cloning reported to the DVLA have resulted in (a) penalties, (b) fines and (c) enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists since 2020.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. It is already illegal to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates. The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and the potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). The DVLA is currently considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. The DVLA is also part of the British Standard Institute (BSI) committee that has recently reviewed the current standard for number plates. The proposed amendments are intended to stop the production of number plates with raised characters and will prevent easy access to plates with ‘ghost’ characteristics. The proposals will also prevent suppliers from adding acrylic letters and numbers to the surface of the number, meaning any finished number plate must be flat. The proposed changes are currently subject to a public consultation that closes on 13 December 2025 and can be found online at https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2025-01059. No estimate has been made of the administrative costs incurred by motorists when resolving cases of (a) cloned and (b) misused registration marks. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. The table also includes the number of replacement vehicle registration numbers the DVLA has issued following receipt of these notifications. Replacement registration numbers are provided free of charge but the purchase of new number plates is the responsibility of the registered keeper. It is important to note that potential cloning is just one of the possible reasons why someone might receive such correspondence. A proportion of these cases will have been made as a result of errors for example, where a vehicle registration number has been entered incorrectly. Information about how many of these cases resulted in penalties, fines or enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists is not held.Calendar YearNumber of reportsNumber of replacement VRNs20207,37711220217,4306120227,83710120239,84887202410,4611362025 (to 31/10)9,385137

What the average monthly pass rate for practical driving tests in the South East has been since May 2025.

The national pass rate for car practical driving tests in October 2025 was 49.9 percent. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency publish data online including data on car practical driving test pass rates broken down by test centre, including those in the South East: drt122a-car-driving-test-by-test-centre.ods This data is updated annually and was last updated on 14 August 2025 with data to March 2025. The next update is due to be published in June 2026.

What progress the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has made on reducing driving test waiting times in the South East since April 2025.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests.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, and announced further actions. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change. DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country, including in the Southeast to provide as many tests as possible. Since July last year, DVSA has recruited and trained 344 driving examiners (DE) who are now in post and delivering driving tests. A full-time DE can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.Between June - October 2025, DVSA has conducted an extra 56,336 total tests when compared to the same period in 2024. This increase can largely be attributed to the additional test allowance scheme the agency introduce in June 2025.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Education and (b) Work and Pensions on the potential impact of driving test backlogs on young people’s access to (i) training and (ii) employment in the South East.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests.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, and announced further actions. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of additional driving lessons caused by driving test booking backlogs in Surrey Heath constituency on families.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access.On 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA would take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.On the 12 November, the Secretary of State, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times, and announced further actions. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.In the coming months, DVSA will:Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their testsIntroduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times. Driving instructors are not directly employed by DVSA and DVSA has no control over what approved driving instructors charge for their services including lessons, test fees, and vehicle hire. To help with costs, learners might wish to consider private practice with family or friends. Guidance on supervising a learner driver is available on the ‘Ready to Pass?’ website as well as on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/guidance/supervise-a-learner-driver.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the number of cloned registration mark reports received by the DVLA since 2020.

There are established data sharing arrangements in place which allow the police and local authorities to lawfully obtain up to date information about vehicles and their registered keepers. The police can also access details held on the Register of Number Plate Suppliers upon request. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. The table also includes the number of replacement vehicle registration numbers the DVLA has issued following receipt of these notifications. Replacement registration numbers are provided free of charge but the purchase of new number plates is the responsibility of the registered keeper. It is important to note that potential cloning is just one of the possible reasons why someone might receive such correspondence. A proportion of these cases will have been made as a result of errors, for example where a vehicle registration number has been entered incorrectly. Information about how many of these cases resulted in penalties, fines or enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists is not held.Calendar YearNumber of reportsNumber of replacement VRNs20207,37711220217,4306120227,83710120239,84887202410,4611362025 (to 31/10)9,385137 Information on the total costs to motorists as a result of vehicle cloning incidents is not available.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of driving test waiting times on the (a) mental health and (b) wellbeing of learner drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access.On 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA would take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.On the 12 November, the Secretary of State, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times, and announced further actions. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.In the coming months, DVSA will:Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their testsIntroduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times. Driving instructors are not directly employed by DVSA and DVSA has no control over what approved driving instructors charge for their services including lessons, test fees, and vehicle hire. To help with costs, learners might wish to consider private practice with family or friends. Guidance on supervising a learner driver is available on the ‘Ready to Pass?’ website as well as on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/guidance/supervise-a-learner-driver.

What recent steps her Department has taken to reduce driving test waiting times for young drivers in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access.On 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA would take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.On the 12 November, the Secretary of State, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times, and announced further actions. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.In the coming months, DVSA will:Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their testsIntroduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times. Driving instructors are not directly employed by DVSA and DVSA has no control over what approved driving instructors charge for their services including lessons, test fees, and vehicle hire. To help with costs, learners might wish to consider private practice with family or friends. Guidance on supervising a learner driver is available on the ‘Ready to Pass?’ website as well as on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/guidance/supervise-a-learner-driver.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of driving test backlogs on (a) rural and (b) semi-rural communities.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers, particularly those living in rural and semi-rural communities.The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.DVSA is committed to providing its customers, including those in rural and semi-rural areas, with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of data-sharing arrangements between the (a) DVLA, (b) police forces and (c) local authorities in tracking cloned vehicle registration marks.

There are established data sharing arrangements in place which allow the police and local authorities to lawfully obtain up to date information about vehicles and their registered keepers. The police can also access details held on the Register of Number Plate Suppliers upon request. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. The table also includes the number of replacement vehicle registration numbers the DVLA has issued following receipt of these notifications. Replacement registration numbers are provided free of charge but the purchase of new number plates is the responsibility of the registered keeper. It is important to note that potential cloning is just one of the possible reasons why someone might receive such correspondence. A proportion of these cases will have been made as a result of errors, for example where a vehicle registration number has been entered incorrectly. Information about how many of these cases resulted in penalties, fines or enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists is not held.Calendar YearNumber of reportsNumber of replacement VRNs20207,37711220217,4306120227,83710120239,84887202410,4611362025 (to 31/10)9,385137 Information on the total costs to motorists as a result of vehicle cloning incidents is not available.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of driving test availability on people entering the workforce in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) fully acknowledges car practical driving test waiting times remain high and understands the impact this continues to have on learner drivers. The agency is intensifying its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access.On 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA would take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.On the 12 November, the Secretary of State, updated the Transport Select Committee on the government’s ongoing response to high driving test waiting times, and announced further actions. The government remains committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, particularly in rural areas where a driving licence is vital for accessing jobs and training, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.In the coming months, DVSA will:Change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their testsIntroduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked.Make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times. Driving instructors are not directly employed by DVSA and DVSA has no control over what approved driving instructors charge for their services including lessons, test fees, and vehicle hire. To help with costs, learners might wish to consider private practice with family or friends. Guidance on supervising a learner driver is available on the ‘Ready to Pass?’ website as well as on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/guidance/supervise-a-learner-driver.

What estimate the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has made of the total cost to motorists of vehicle registration mark cloning incidents in each of the last five years.

There are established data sharing arrangements in place which allow the police and local authorities to lawfully obtain up to date information about vehicles and their registered keepers. The police can also access details held on the Register of Number Plate Suppliers upon request. The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the DVLA about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. The table also includes the number of replacement vehicle registration numbers the DVLA has issued following receipt of these notifications. Replacement registration numbers are provided free of charge but the purchase of new number plates is the responsibility of the registered keeper. It is important to note that potential cloning is just one of the possible reasons why someone might receive such correspondence. A proportion of these cases will have been made as a result of errors, for example where a vehicle registration number has been entered incorrectly. Information about how many of these cases resulted in penalties, fines or enforcement action being withdrawn from affected motorists is not held.Calendar YearNumber of reportsNumber of replacement VRNs20207,37711220217,4306120227,83710120239,84887202410,4611362025 (to 31/10)9,385137 Information on the total costs to motorists as a result of vehicle cloning incidents is not available.