Written questions by Pinkerton.

How many additional driving examiners have been recruited to test centres in the South East since May 2025.

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 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. 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. 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.For test centres serving learner drivers in the Southeast, DVSA has recruited and trained 52 DEs who are now in post and delivering driving tests. There are currently 24 new entrant DEs undertaking training, 32 booked on a training course and DVSA has made offers to 26 new entrants.

What progress the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has made on implementing its plan to reduce driving test waiting times in the South East.

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 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. 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. 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.For test centres serving learner drivers in the Southeast, DVSA has recruited and trained 52 DEs who are now in post and delivering driving tests. There are currently 24 new entrant DEs undertaking training, 32 booked on a training course and DVSA has made offers to 26 new entrants.

Whether her Department has assessed the adequacy of public transport accessibility for assistance dog users in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) Surrey.

The Government recognises the importance of accessible public transport to enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. As part of our broader mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we recognise that more needs to be done to ensure transport is accessible to all, including assistance dog users in Surrey. Our Bus Services Act 2025 includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local bus services. Among others, we are requiring local authorities to publish a Bus Network Accessibility Plan, assessing the existing accessibility levels of local bus services in their area and specifying any planned improvements to it. Assistance dogs can travel on all UK trains for free and are permitted to be on the train with their handler at all times. There is also an Assistance Dog Travel Scheme, which provides a personal, highly visible and reusable Assistance Dog Under Seat card, that creates a ‘protected space’ for assistance dogs and lets other customers know the seat and the space under it should be kept free. As these are national policies, they also apply to the Surrey Heath constituency and Surrey. We are also committed to developing an Accessible Travel Charter. The charter is a commitment to a shared vision for accessible travel. It will aim to set out what disabled travellers can expect from their journeys and what to do when standards are not met, share best practice across organisations and create consistency in end-to-end journeys for disabled travellers.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that key stakeholders are involved in the (a) planning and (b) decision-making of works on junctions connecting to critical national infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.

Ahead of planned roadwork closures National Highways (NH) engage with local authorities' and key local stakeholders to inform them of the work which may impact on them and plan a suitable schedule. NH inform customers through its website, project information events, letter drops and local media to support road users in areas facing a significant impact from the works. National Highways currently have no planned schemes in Surrey Heath during 2025/26 and have some renewals work planned during 2026/27.

What steps her Department is taking to improve the accuracy of vehicle registration data held by the DVLA.

The latest available data shows more than 93 per cent of vehicle keepers are contactable and traceable from the information held on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s record. Of the remainder, around six per cent are in the motor trade where a vehicle may legitimately have no registered keeper. The DVLA works to reduce the number of vehicles that have no registered keeper or are unlicensed through a combination of enforcement, collaboration and education. The DVLA works with more than 80 local authorities and police forces to identify and act on vehicles which do not have a registered keeper. The DVLA also deploys Automatic Number Plate Recognition vehicles to detect unlicensed or unregistered vehicles and sends reminders as well as promoting easier payment options to encourage people to license their vehicle on time. There are long-standing legislative requirements in place to ensure that keepers notify the DVLA when they buy and sell a vehicle. It is an offence to use a vehicle that does not have a registered keeper.

What assessment her Department has made of the accuracy of vehicle registration plate data held by the DVLA.

The latest available data shows more than 93 per cent of vehicle keepers are contactable and traceable from the information held on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s record. Of the remainder, around six per cent are in the motor trade where a vehicle may legitimately have no registered keeper. The DVLA works to reduce the number of vehicles that have no registered keeper or are unlicensed through a combination of enforcement, collaboration and education. The DVLA works with more than 80 local authorities and police forces to identify and act on vehicles which do not have a registered keeper. The DVLA also deploys Automatic Number Plate Recognition vehicles to detect unlicensed or unregistered vehicles and sends reminders as well as promoting easier payment options to encourage people to license their vehicle on time. There are long-standing legislative requirements in place to ensure that keepers notify the DVLA when they buy and sell a vehicle. It is an offence to use a vehicle that does not have a registered keeper.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of rejoining the EU's European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service.

Through our regular engagement with the aviation industry, we are aware of the operational implications following the loss of access to the EU’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. The Department continues to work with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, which is leading the Government’s business case on a future Satellite Based Augmentation System, to ensure that the aviation requirements are understood and considered as part of the decision-making process.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that data on (a) aircraft noise and (b) emissions from Farnborough Airport is (i) publicly available and (ii) independently verified.

The availability and independent verification of aircraft noise data from Farnborough Airport is a matter for Rushmoor Borough Council. Farnborough Airport Company Limited has published information through their Annual report and Roadmap to Net Zero 2030 document on the environmental impacts, such as carbon emissions, of the airport and other parts of the company. These documents discuss the company’s adherence to a range of legal requirements concerning the environment. DfT has not verified the information within the reports.

Whether her Department plans to review the public safety zone around Farnborough Airport in the context of the proposed increase in flight numbers.

The size of public safety zones at aerodromes is based off the annual commercial air traffic movements. This can extend to 1,500 metres from landing thresholds for those airports with 45,000 or more movements, which includes Farnborough airport. While overall policy is set by the department, administration is via the Civil Aviation Authority and implementation via local planning authorities. There are no current plans to review this approach.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased weekend flight operations at Farnborough Airport on the (a) wellbeing and (b) quality of life of people in Surrey Heath constituency.

Assessment of the potential impact of Farnborough Airport’s increased weekend flight operations is a matter for Rushmoor Borough Council as the local planning authority responsible for considering the airport’s planning application.

What discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on the disruption caused by Heavy Goods Vehicles in busy (a) village and (b) town centres in the Surrey Heath constituency.

My Department has not discussed this matter with Surrey County Council. Management of traffic, including HGVs, on local roads is the responsibility of the local highway authority. They have a range of measures available to them to manage inappropriate use of roads by HGVs, such as weight restrictions and signing strategies. It is for them to determine what measures are appropriate for individual situations.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of public bus services supporting (a) secondary school pupils and (b) sixth form students in Surrey Heath constituency.

Home to School Transport policy is the responsibility of the Department for Education (DfE). The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education. The Government is committed to delivering better bus services across the country, including to support better access to education.The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Surrey County Council has been allocated £12 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the Government confirmed additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

What steps her Department is taking to improve public bus services for (a) secondary school pupils and (b) sixth form students in Surrey Heath constituency.

Home to School Transport policy is the responsibility of the Department for Education (DfE). The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education. The Government is committed to delivering better bus services across the country, including to support better access to education.The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Surrey County Council has been allocated £12 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the Government confirmed additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed expansion of Farnborough Airport on (a) noise pollution and (b) air quality in Surrey Heath constituency.

Assessment of the potential impact of Farnborough Airport’s expansion is a matter for Rushmoor Borough Council as the local planning authority responsible for considering the airport’s planning application.

What steps her Department is taking to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of affordable and accessible charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). Surrey County Council, which includes Surrey Heath constituency, was allocated over £3 million through the Government’s Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to leverage additional private investment and expand the amount of EV charging infrastructure across the area.We also recently announced a £25 million Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant which is intended to empower local authorities to adopt pavement channels as part of their local charging solutions. Surrey County Council were allocated £225,000 to support the installation of pavement channels.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of increasing electric vehicle usage on (a) environmental and (b) local infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.

As well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles eliminate tailpipe emissions, improving air quality in local areas in comparison to petrol and diesel vehicles. In terms of infrastructure, Surrey County Council, which includes Surrey Heath constituency, was allocated over £3 million through the Government’s Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to leverage additional private investment and expand the amount of EV charging infrastructure across the area. We also recently announced a £25 million Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant which is intended to empower local authorities to adopt pavement channels as part of their local charging solutions. Surrey County Council were allocated £225,000 to support the installation of pavement channels.

What discussions her Department has had with the DVLA on support for people who wish to appeal a penalty charge notice in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not issue penalty charge notices. These are mostly issued by local authorities in relation to parking offences or congestion charges. Anyone wishing to appeal a penalty charge notice should contact the issuing authority. Anyone who receives a penalty charge notice or other correspondence for a vehicle they are not responsible for should to contact the issuing authority. If there is a suspicion that the number plate may have been cloned, the DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence. The DVLA can also provide a replacement vehicle registration number to help victims of number plate cloning.

What recent discussions her Department has had with local councils to help ensure (a) transparency in and (b) the public accessibility of the environmental impact assessment consultation process on the proposed expansion of Farnborough Airport’s proposed.

My Department has not had any discussions with local councils on the environmental impact assessment consultation regarding the proposed expansion of Farnborough Airport. This matter is for the determination of Rushmoor Borough Council as the local planning authority.

If her Department will publish statistics on the incidence of number cloning in (a) Surrey Heath constituency and (b) the South East region.

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 and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate. To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number. 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. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers. Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of granting additional enforcement powers to authorities to tackle 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 and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS). Officials are considering options to ensure a more robust RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is the responsibility of the police. The police rely on existing statutory powers to seize vehicles displaying cloned number plates. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate. To help victims of number plate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number. 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. This data is not held by constituency or region so specific information for Surrey Heath or the south east is not available. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers. Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461