Every parliamentary written question tabled by Sarah Coombes this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 57 · Department for Transport
What percentage of ANPR misreads occurred in each of the last five years of the DfT's roadside surveys.
The Department does not readily hold figures on the percentage of ANPR misreads from vehicle excise duty evasion statistics roadside survey. Misreads are managed through quality assurance and correction processes, with any remaining uncertainty reflected in the confidence intervals published alongside Vehicle Excise Duty evasion estimates.
How many DVLA-registered number plate suppliers are based in (a) West Bromwich and (b) Sandwell.
The tables below show the number of registered number plate suppliers based in West Bromwich and Sandwell by postcode area. As postcode boundaries do not always align with administrative borders, two postcodes appear in both tables. Postcode areas may also extend beyond West Bromwich and Sandwell. West Bromwich PostcodeNumber of SuppliersB7024B713Sandwell PostcodeNumber of SuppliersB433B6421B6513B6632B672B686B6918B7024B713DY420WS54WS1035WV1428
What assessment he has made of the number of Notice of Impending Prosecution farms operating in the UK.
The Department for Transport does not issue Notice of Intended Prosecutions and is not responsible for enforcing against any illegal activity related to this process. These are matters for the police.
If she will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that signage for EV charging stations can be erected in the same way as for a fuel pump.
Clear and consistent electric vehicle (EV) signage is essential to support the EV transition, ensuring drivers can confidently and safely undertake journeys. We’re modernising EV road signage so drivers can more easily find chargers.Changes announced in July 2025 allow signing from major A-roads for charging hubs with at least 12 ultra-rapid chargepoints and the same level of facilities as existing A-road services.We will continue to work with industry to improve EV signage. We are currently engaging with stakeholders on what further changes would be valuable for signage on motorways, major A-roads and on local roads.
What assessment she has made of the availability of signage for EV charging points on A-roads and on the strategic road network.
Clear and consistent electric vehicle (EV) signage is essential to support the EV transition, ensuring drivers can confidently and safely undertake journeys. We’re modernising EV road signage so drivers can more easily find chargers.Changes announced in July 2025 allow signing from major A-roads for charging hubs with at least 12 ultra-rapid chargepoints and the same level of facilities as existing A-road services.We will continue to work with industry to improve EV signage. We are currently engaging with stakeholders on what further changes would be valuable for signage on motorways, major A-roads and on local roads.
What percentage of ultra-rapid charging hubs along A-roads and motorways are eligible for roadside signage.
Clear and consistent electric vehicle (EV) signage is essential to support the EV transition, ensuring drivers can confidently and safely undertake journeys. We’re modernising EV road signage so drivers can more easily find chargers.Changes announced in July 2025 allow signing from major A-roads for charging hubs with at least 12 ultra-rapid chargepoints and the same level of facilities as existing A-road services.We will continue to work with industry to improve EV signage. We are currently engaging with stakeholders on what further changes would be valuable for signage on motorways, major A-roads and on local roads.
With reference to the answer of 2 March 2026 to question 115655, what safeguards and checks the DVLA has in place to ensure the 1,840 number plate suppliers who have been struck off the register of number plate suppliers since 2020 cannot successfully re-apply to become a registered supplier.
The 1,840 suppliers who were removed from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS) since 2020 includes those suppliers who were removed voluntarily, suppliers that have ceased trading and those whose removal was ordered by a court. Suppliers who were removed from the RNPS voluntarily or because they have ceased trading can re-register at any time. Removals from the RNPS ordered by a court are usually for a fixed period, up to a maximum of five years. If the DVLA is aware that removal from the RNPS has been ordered by a court, the supplier will not be able to rejoin the register until the length of the exclusion ordered by the court has expired. When a supplier applies to join the RNPS, checks are carried out against the business and individual’s name(s) and address to confirm if they have previously been on the RNPS. This ensures number plate suppliers whose removal from the RNPS was ordered by a court cannot successfully re-apply to become a registered supplier during their removal period.
How many days per year the DVLA's enforcement officers are on the road.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Register of Number Plate suppliers (RNPS) enforcement officers are on the road auditing number plate suppliers three to four days a week. Other days are reserved for administration, training, meetings with stakeholders, partner organisations and other matters. Since 2020, 1,840 outlets have been removed from the RNPS. This includes voluntary removals, suppliers that have ceased trading as well as removals ordered by a court. A list of suppliers removed from the RNPS as a result of a court order can only be provided at disproportionate cost. To extract this information would require a manual interrogation of each of the 1,840 records to determine the reason for removal. Suppliers who have been removed from the RNPS voluntarily or because they have ceased trading can re-register at any time. Court ordered removals from the RNPS are usually for a fixed period up to a maximum of five years. The DVLA will not allow a suppler to rejoin the RNPS during the time while a court ordered period is in effect. Information on how many suppliers have rejoined the RNPS following their removal from the register is not readily available and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. To extract this information would also require a manual interrogation of each of the 1,840 records to determine if the supplier has returned to the register.
How many suppliers has the DVLA returned to the Register of Number Plate Suppliers following their removal from the Register.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Register of Number Plate suppliers (RNPS) enforcement officers are on the road auditing number plate suppliers three to four days a week. Other days are reserved for administration, training, meetings with stakeholders, partner organisations and other matters. Since 2020, 1,840 outlets have been removed from the RNPS. This includes voluntary removals, suppliers that have ceased trading as well as removals ordered by a court. A list of suppliers removed from the RNPS as a result of a court order can only be provided at disproportionate cost. To extract this information would require a manual interrogation of each of the 1,840 records to determine the reason for removal. Suppliers who have been removed from the RNPS voluntarily or because they have ceased trading can re-register at any time. Court ordered removals from the RNPS are usually for a fixed period up to a maximum of five years. The DVLA will not allow a suppler to rejoin the RNPS during the time while a court ordered period is in effect. Information on how many suppliers have rejoined the RNPS following their removal from the register is not readily available and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. To extract this information would also require a manual interrogation of each of the 1,840 records to determine if the supplier has returned to the register.
Whether the DVLA can provide a list of suppliers who have been struck off the Register of Number Plate suppliers since 2020.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Register of Number Plate suppliers (RNPS) enforcement officers are on the road auditing number plate suppliers three to four days a week. Other days are reserved for administration, training, meetings with stakeholders, partner organisations and other matters. Since 2020, 1,840 outlets have been removed from the RNPS. This includes voluntary removals, suppliers that have ceased trading as well as removals ordered by a court. A list of suppliers removed from the RNPS as a result of a court order can only be provided at disproportionate cost. To extract this information would require a manual interrogation of each of the 1,840 records to determine the reason for removal. Suppliers who have been removed from the RNPS voluntarily or because they have ceased trading can re-register at any time. Court ordered removals from the RNPS are usually for a fixed period up to a maximum of five years. The DVLA will not allow a suppler to rejoin the RNPS during the time while a court ordered period is in effect. Information on how many suppliers have rejoined the RNPS following their removal from the register is not readily available and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. To extract this information would also require a manual interrogation of each of the 1,840 records to determine if the supplier has returned to the register.
For what reasons vehicles may not have registered keepers.
Vehicles that are currently in the motor trade may legitimately have no registered keeper as well as vehicles that have been sold but the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has not yet been notified of the new keeper. There will also be cases where the DVLA has been made aware of someone being incorrectly associated with a vehicle they are not responsible for. In those cases, the DVLA will remove the person’s name from the vehicle record to help ensure that they are not contacted about a vehicle for which they are not responsible.
How many fines the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has issued to people who failed to update their V5C logbook in each of the last five years.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not allow individual vehicle keepers to use a PO Box address to register their vehicles. Fleet companies are able to use a PO box address but this must always be accompanied by the full and verifiable postal address. This supports vehicle accuracy and the traceability of registered keepers. The DVLA is unable to identify the number of vehicle records with a PO box number as part of the address as the data is filtered by post code. The DVLA has not issued any fines to people who failed to update their vehicle registration certificate or driving licence in the last five years.
How many and what proportion of vehicle registered keepers have provided a PO Box as an address.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not allow individual vehicle keepers to use a PO Box address to register their vehicles. Fleet companies are able to use a PO box address but this must always be accompanied by the full and verifiable postal address. This supports vehicle accuracy and the traceability of registered keepers. The DVLA is unable to identify the number of vehicle records with a PO box number as part of the address as the data is filtered by post code. The DVLA has not issued any fines to people who failed to update their vehicle registration certificate or driving licence in the last five years.
How many fines the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has issued to people who have failed to update their address on their driving license in each of the last five years.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not allow individual vehicle keepers to use a PO Box address to register their vehicles. Fleet companies are able to use a PO box address but this must always be accompanied by the full and verifiable postal address. This supports vehicle accuracy and the traceability of registered keepers. The DVLA is unable to identify the number of vehicle records with a PO box number as part of the address as the data is filtered by post code. The DVLA has not issued any fines to people who failed to update their vehicle registration certificate or driving licence in the last five years.
If she will publish a breakdown of the number of registered number plate suppliers registered to each of the most commonly used PO boxes.
Of the 34,455 registered number plate suppliers, seven (0.02%) have a PO box address. All seven of these PO box addresses are different.
How many and what proportion of registered number plate suppliers have addresses registered to PO boxes.
Of the 34,455 registered number plate suppliers, seven (0.02%) have a PO box address. All seven of these PO box addresses are different.
What targets her Department sets for DVLA enforcement checks of the register of number plate suppliers.
While there are no specific targets set, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aim to audit each registered number plate supplier at least once every three years.The DVLA supports Trading Standards and the police in prosecuting suppliers who fail to meet legal requirements. Over the past 12 months, these prosecutions have led to five businesses being removed from the register. Two of these were removed by court order and three deregistered voluntarily before legal proceedings commenced. These five businesses have not returned to the register.
How many suppliers struck off the register of number plate suppliers due to (a) malpractice and (b) selling number plates illegally have rejoined the register.
While there are no specific targets set, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aim to audit each registered number plate supplier at least once every three years.The DVLA supports Trading Standards and the police in prosecuting suppliers who fail to meet legal requirements. Over the past 12 months, these prosecutions have led to five businesses being removed from the register. Two of these were removed by court order and three deregistered voluntarily before legal proceedings commenced. These five businesses have not returned to the register.
What previous criminal offences checks the DVLA carries out on people on the register of number plate suppliers.
The information requested about the number of people with criminal convictions, including fraud, is not held by the Department.The DVLA supports Trading Standards and the police in prosecuting suppliers who fail to meet the requirements of the relevant legislation. During 2025, the DVLA has supported Trading Standards and the police in the successful prosecution of 14 suppliers. These included offences of not keeping records and failing to ask for the required documentation. The DVLA also carries out audits of registered number plate suppliers and sends warning letters where appropriate. Over the last five years the DVLA has carried out 7,993 audits and sent 3,759 warning letters. The warning letters issued are related to not keeping the required records, supplying number plates without seeing original documents and for being an unregistered supplier.
How many number plate suppliers have been found to be selling number plates without asking for vehicle ownership details.
The information requested about the number of people with criminal convictions, including fraud, is not held by the Department.The DVLA supports Trading Standards and the police in prosecuting suppliers who fail to meet the requirements of the relevant legislation. During 2025, the DVLA has supported Trading Standards and the police in the successful prosecution of 14 suppliers. These included offences of not keeping records and failing to ask for the required documentation. The DVLA also carries out audits of registered number plate suppliers and sends warning letters where appropriate. Over the last five years the DVLA has carried out 7,993 audits and sent 3,759 warning letters. The warning letters issued are related to not keeping the required records, supplying number plates without seeing original documents and for being an unregistered supplier.