Written questions by Hack.

Whether the Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of setting up a whistleblowing route or digital hotline to allow driving instructors to report those who are reselling tests for profit.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country. DVSA has zero tolerance for those who exploit learner drivers.There are already various avenues through which individuals might raise concerns to the DVSA. For example, people can contact DVSA’s instructor conduct team if they have concerns about the service or behaviour of an individual approved driving instructor. People might also raise concerns to DVSA’s intelligence unit via enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk.The nature of any concerns received can vary, for example some might be about an individual whereas others might be regarding businesses. When any intelligence is received DVSA will initially assess this to fully understand the nature of the matter being raised. This ensures the matter is then passed to the relevant team to take forward.

How many people hold a valid (a) provisional and (b) full UK driving licence.

The table below shows the number of full and provisional licence holders on 11 October 2025. Full licence holders42,795,544Provisional licence holders10,502,938Total53,298,482

What technological steps her Department is considering taking to restore the number of practical driving test bookings back to pre-covid levels.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. As set out in DVSA’s 2024/25 business plan, DVSA is beginning the process of replacing it’s booking system. The system has many uses including: booking and scheduling of all practical driving and riding testsrecording mandatory training taken by professional lorry and bus driversadministering the register of approved driving instructors (ADIs) and the compulsory basic training (CBT) scheme for novice motorcyclists DVSA will start by replacing the test booking and scheduling service. This will allow better capture and meeting of customers’ requirements, including those with additional needs. DVSA will update the way it schedules tests using modern, flexible technology that makes better use of examiners’ time and reduces manual processes. To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the DVSA continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests. DVSA deploys bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.

What proportion of booked practical driving tests were attended by learner drivers in each month in the last ten years.

The attached Excel document shows the percentage of car practical driving tests attended for the last ten full financial years.

What data her Department holds on how many and what proportion of driving test bookings involved the initial driving licence number on the booking form being subsequently changed, in each month since January 2015.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests. Between 28 May and 23 July 2025, DVSA ran a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. Views were sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers from being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price. In line with the consultation principles, DVSA will aim to publish a summary of responses, including the next steps, which might include new legislation.While the selling of tests for profit is not illegal, DVSA deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly, but these applications are constantly evolving and changing. DVSA continues looking for ways to ensure the safest and fairest way to book a driving test is for a legitimate candidate to use its services. DVSA has zero tolerance for those who exploit learner drivers and is committed to tackling the reselling of driving tests. The attached spreadsheet, WPQ00047632, shows the number bookings made* and the number of bookings ,including percentage, of practical driving test bookings where the initial test candidate’s driving licence number was subsequently changed to a different driving test candidate’s licence number in each month since January 2015.* The number of bookings made does not equate to the number of practical driving tests conducted. Not all test bookings result in a test being conducted.

What discussions she has had with local councils on (a) accessing the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund and (b) using cross-pavement solutions for charging electric vehicles.

Government has regular discussions with local authorities about accessing the £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and has appointed a support body to assist local authorities with pre and post-application support. In December 2024, following significant engagement with local authorities, the Government published cross-pavement guidance to help local authorities understand what they need to consider for the roll-out of cross-pavement solutions. This includes relevant planning permissions, minimum existing standards, responsibilities and case studies of trials.

What steps she is taking to improve passenger rail connectivity.

We continue to invest in improving connectivity for passengers on our railways. Major enhancements, such as Transpennine Route Upgrade and East West Rail, will provide new connections for passengers alongside wider investment in improvements that totals around £2bn each year. Increasingly our focus is on connectivity to places that have had less historic investment, and more than 75% of our forecast spend is proposed to be outside of London and the South East in the next Spending Review Period.

With reference to the Transport & Environment, publication entitled Palm Oil?, published on 9 April 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential disruption to the transport fuel supply.

We take the concerns raised in Transport & Environment’s publication relating to the biofuel feedstock Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) seriously. Fuel supplied in the UK under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) is subject to robust checks as required by legislation. If evidence of fraud or non-compliance is found we have powers to withhold or revoke certificates, issue civil penalties and, where appropriate, refer the matter to the relevant authorities. The Department does not expect the concerns raised to result in disruption to the overall supply of transport fuel.

What data her Department holds on the percentage of driving test bookings where the initial driving licence number on the booking form was subsequently changed in each month since January 2019.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests. DVSA is experiencing some of the highest demand for driving tests it has ever seen. This, and continued high waiting times for tests, has contributed to a major shift in customer booking behaviour. Many customers now book their car practical test far earlier in their learning journey, sometimes before they have even had a practical driving lesson. DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee of £62. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate. The attached spreadsheet shows the number and percentage of practical driving test bookings where the initial test candidate’s driving licence number was subsequently changed to a different driving test candidate’s licence number in each month since January 2019.

What data her Department holds on the number of driving test bookings where the initial driving licence number on the booking form was subsequently changed in each month since January 2019.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests. DVSA is experiencing some of the highest demand for driving tests it has ever seen. This, and continued high waiting times for tests, has contributed to a major shift in customer booking behaviour. Many customers now book their car practical test far earlier in their learning journey, sometimes before they have even had a practical driving lesson. DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee of £62. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate. The attached spreadsheet shows the number and percentage of practical driving test bookings where the initial test candidate’s driving licence number was subsequently changed to a different driving test candidate’s licence number in each month since January 2019.

What recent steps her Department has taken to ensure consistency in local authorities' taxi license-issuing regimes.

The Department for Transport issues guidance to licensing authorities in England to help them regulate the sector. One of the aims of the guidance is to improve consistency in the licensing standards required by licensing authorities. Statutory guidance was issued in 2020 on measures that should be taken to protect children and vulnerable adults, and by extension all passengers, when using these services. Last year the Department issued updated best practice guidance which made recommendations to promote regulation that enables the provision of safe, accessible, available, and affordable services that meet the wide range of passenger needs by a thriving sector.