Written questions by O'Brien.

How many foreign driving licences were exchanged for GB licences in each of the last five years, broken down by country of origin.

Awaiting answer.

What the cost was to the public purse of graffiti removal across the Network Rail network in each of the last five years.

The cost of graffiti removal across the Network Rail network is available on Network Rail’s website.

For what reason (a) the number of staff and (b) and staff costs have increased at the Civil Aviation Authority since April 2017.

Since 2016, the CAA’s regulatory perimeter has expanded significantly. Following EU Exit, the CAA developed new rulemaking and regulatory oversight functions to replace those delivered by the European Aviation Safety Agency until 2020, including the creation of a UK state of design function. As a result of the Space Industry Act 2018, the CAA became the UK Space Regulator in 2021. At the same time, the CAA has grown to respond to the development of novel aviation technology (including drones, air taxis and future propulsion such as hydrogen), setting regulatory frameworks and standards to enable tomorrow’s aerospace to innovate and grow. The Future of Flight technologies have the potential to contribute up to £103 billion to the UK economy over the next 25 years. Reflecting its strategic objectives and the government’s priorities, the CAA has created additional capacity in five areas; in economic regulation and consumer enforcement to manage increased ambition and expectations; to fulfil CAA’s expanded remit in relation to airspace modernisation; to deliver new cyber security oversight responsibilities for the aviation sector; and to deliver the CAA’s sustainability roles, including those it took on from the Independent Commission for Civil Aviation Noise; together with increases in back-office areas supporting these teams. All of this has been delivered with a focus on efficiency and efficacy, enabling increased investment in CAA services to its customers.

How many and what proportion of driving-test bookings had their test location changed before the test was taken in the last 12 months.

Between the 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, just over 565,000 tests were recorded as being moved between driving test centres (DTC). This equates to approximately 31% of tests. Please note, in line with other published data that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) produces, this data currently only covers the 12-month period from July 2024 to June 2025.

How many and what proportion of staff in each grade were rated in the top performance category in the last year.

The table below shows the number and proportion of each non-Senior Civil Service (SCS) grade receiving the top performance category at the end of 2024/25 for DfTc. GradeNumber of staff receiving the top performance category (“Outstanding”)Proportion of staff in grade who received a performance descriptor (%)AO-EO167.2%HEO215.1%SEO366.4%Grade 7537.4%Grade 64012.7%The SCS have a separate performance management system. For the 2024/25 performance year, 20.3% of Group DfT SCS received a top performance category, following departmental moderation processes.

How many disciplinary cases were concluded against civil servants in (a) the Department and (b) its agencies broken down by (i) outcome and (ii) whether the primary allegation related to (A) performance and (B) conduct.

Over the past 12 months (1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025), a total of 247 ‘Discipline’ cases and 58 ‘Managing Poor Performance’ cases have been concluded in the Department for Transport’s central department and its Executive Agencies. A breakdown of the outcomes for these cases is captured in the 2 tables below. 1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025Outcomes from Discipline CasesDfTcDVLADVSAMCAVCATotalDismissal<51718<5<5 Employee Deceased0<5000 Final Written Warning0<5<5<50 Final Written Warning – 12 months011170<5 First Written Warning<51427<50 Informal Action613156<5 No Action<52032<50 No Outcome Provided<5<5600 Resignation<5<55<5<5 Withdrawn<50<500 Total 247 1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025Outcomes from Managing Poor Performance CasesDfTcDVLADVSAMCAVCATotalAlternative Role<50<500 Dismissal<50000 First Written Warning Issued09<5<50 Improvement Noted7<5<5<50 Informal Action14<5<5110 Mediation<50000 No Action7<5<500 No Outcome Provided5<5<500 Resignation<5<5<5<50 Total 58

What the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing staff in the last year.

For the last year (1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025), there have been no settlement agreements or special severance payments made to departing Department for Transport central staff outside of statutory, contractual or other requirements.

How many and what proportion of staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.

Higher Grade promotions Total StaffHigher grade promotionsProportionAO/EO52951%HEO/SEO/FS18201388%G7/G618161186%SCS267218%Totals44322826% Payband GroupsHigher grade promotions23/24 Year End MarkingAE/EO5Not Available/ReportableHEO/SEO/FS24AchievingHEO/SEO/FS6DevelopingHEO/SEO/FS57ExceedingHEO/SEO/FS44Not Available/ReportableHEO/SEO/FS7OutstandingG7/G633AchievingG7/G6<5DevelopingG7/G645ExceedingG7/G632Not Available/ReportableG7/G67OutstandingSCS9Achieving

What the average number of working days lost to sickness absence per full-time equivalent member of staff was in (a) the Department and (b) its executive agencies in the last year; and how many formal performance warnings were issued to staff whose absence exceeded departmental triggers.

The figures below are calculated as a rolling 12-month period up until 31st October 2025.The Average Working Days Lost for the Department is currently 4.2.The table below shows the average working days lost for the Department’s Executive Agencies Column1Average Working Days LostATE0.90DVLA13.11DVSA9.36MCA7.17VCA9.06 The total number of formal performance warnings issued to staff who exceeded departmental triggers for the Department for Transport and its Executive Agencies for the rolling 12-month period up until 31st October 2025 is 21.

Whether she has assessed the potential merits of offering bonus payments to driving instructors for undertaking driving tests above their contracted duties.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not employ driving instructors. By law, approved driving instructors (ADI) cannot work as examiners at the same time as being a registered instructor, even temporarily. Whilst DVSA does not have the power to either increase or limit the number of ADI, the number of instructors on DVSA’s ADI register has increased in the last few years. 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 March 2025.

How many and what proportion of driving-licence numbers entered on driving-test booking forms have subsequently been changed since March 2025.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not employ driving instructors. By law, approved driving instructors (ADI) cannot work as examiners at the same time as being a registered instructor, even temporarily. Whilst DVSA does not have the power to either increase or limit the number of ADI, the number of instructors on DVSA’s ADI register has increased in the last few years. 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 March 2025.

How many new driving instructors have been hired since January 2015.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) does not employ driving instructors. By law, approved driving instructors (ADI) cannot work as examiners at the same time as being a registered instructor, even temporarily. Whilst DVSA does not have the power to either increase or limit the number of ADI, the number of instructors on DVSA’s ADI register has increased in the last few years. 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 March 2025.

With reference to her Department’s guidance entitled Who can get a Blue Badge, updated 10 August 2021, if she will review the guidance to ensure that community transport providers are able to apply successfully.

An organisational badge may be issued to an organisation for use in a motor vehicle or vehicles when the vehicle or vehicles are to be used to carry disabled people who would themselves be eligible for a badge as specified in Section 4(2) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000. However, it is generally preferable for disabled individuals to hold their own Blue Badge, allowing them to use it in any vehicle they travel in, including community transport vehicles. Officials will undertake a review of the Blue Badge guidance, including the section regarding organisational Blue Badges, to ensure the guidance is clear when applying for a Blue Badge.

What discussions she has had with local authorities on whether the current organisational Blue Badge guidance adequately enables community transport providers to apply successfully.

The Department regularly engages with local authorities on a range of Blue Badge issues, including the local authority guidance. It is generally preferable for disabled individuals to hold their own Blue Badge, enabling them to use it in any vehicle they travel in, including community transport vehicles. An organisational badge may be issued to an organisation for use in a motor vehicle or vehicles when the vehicle or vehicles are to be used to carry disabled people who would themselves be eligible for a badge as specified in Section 4(2) of the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000.Local authorities must be able to ascertain that the organisation both cares for and regularly transports individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for a Blue Badge, and that there is a clear operational need for an organisational badge rather than simply using an individual’s Blue Badge.

How many (a) Equality Impact Assessments and (b) equality screenings have been produced by her Department in the last three months.

The Department does not maintain a central record of the number of EIAs produced. Equality screenings are a requirement under Northern Ireland’s Section 75 framework and are not part of standard equality assessment practice in Great Britain.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 6462 on Driving Tests: Waiting Lists, what the monthly average waiting time for a car practical driving test was at each (a) driving test centre and (b) zone in each month since April 2015.

The answer to Question 6462 on 9 October 2024 provided data covering April 2015 to September 2024. The attached spreadsheet shows the monthly average waiting time for a car practical driving test at each driving test centre and zone for each month between October 2024 and October 2025.

What the annual budget was for the (a) Office of Rail and Road, (b) Civil Aviation Authority and (c) Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in each year since 2005.

Information regarding the requested Public Bodies’ annual budget is contained in their respective Annual Report and Accounts. The DVSA was established in 2014 following the merger of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) therefore detail is available from 2014 only.

How many people have been employed by (a) the Office of Rail and Road, (b) the Civil Aviation Authority and (c) the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in each year since 2005.

Information regarding the requested Public Bodies’ staff numbers is published in their respective Annual Report and Accounts. The DVSA was established in 2014.

What the annual budget was for (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (b) (i) Highways England and (ii) National Highways in each year since 2005.

The table below shows the main estimate budgets for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The data for the financial years before 2011/12 are not readily available. YearResource DEL Including Depreciation (£m)Capital DEL (£m)Resource AME (£m)Depreciation (£m)Resource DEL Excluding Depreciation (£m)2011/12194.325.61.827.6166.72012/13188.426.32.430.1158.32013/14172.027.126.232.0140.02014/15128.815.37.935.893.02015/16141.020.04.037.0104.02016/17113.013.03.029.084.02017/1898.013.02.025.073.02018/1995.014.02.012.083.02019/2092.016.02.07.085.02020/2193.423.91.610.083.42021/22127.021.02.013.0114.02022/23139.021.02.013.0126.02023/24129.021.11.612.9116.12024/25135.520.01.813.8121.72025/26137.721.10.113.4124.3 The table below shows the data available for the annual budgets for the National Highways. This data has been extracted from the annual report and accounts. Budget £mFinancial yearsOperating expenditureCapital expenditureTotal2021-221,1733,0864,2592022-231,2353,2134,4482023-241,3453,4214,7662024-251,4673,6705,137

How many people have been employed by (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (b) (i) Highways England and (ii) National Highways in each year since 2005.

The data requested for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is publicly available information included in the DfT: workforce management information. The data requested for National Highways (and covering Highways England) is publicly available information included in the Annual Report and Accounts. The only exception to this is in 2021/22 as the Annual Report and Accounts was not delivered in the same format following the creation of National Highways.