Government motoring agencies report published

7 Oct 2014 12:20 PM

The Transport Committee calls for reorganised agencies to deliver a more unified service as it publishes its report on Government motoring agencies - the user perspective. 

• Report: Government motoring agencies – the user perspective
• Report: Government motoring agencies – the user perspective (PDF)
• Inquiry: Government motoring agencies
• Transport Committee

The Department for Transport must ensure that the recently reorganised agencies serving motorists* work harder to deliver a better service for all, including business customers.

Chair's comments

Launching a report examining the experience of people using the Government’s motoring agencies, Louise Ellman MP, Transport Committee chair said,

"DVLA and DVSA are important for delivering essential services related to tax, licensing, testing, and vehicle safety. The Department for Transport must ensure that its current re-organisation programme for these agencies delivers high quality services that benefit everyone.

The recent problems experienced by motorists when road tax renewal went online demonstrates the importance of responding to change, having clear communication with the public and an effective contingency plan to maintain confidence
 
We welcome greater information sharing across the motoring agencies and the expansion of online services that we found were well-liked by many customers. However, the motoring agencies must continue to meet the needs of those customers who can’t access or use digital services.

Linked to this the Government must do more to warn motorists about misleading ‘copycat’ websites that charge for services provided for free by motoring agencies.

We also call on DVLA to do more to explain the legal basis for the sharing of personal data with organisations engaged in parking enforcement and the steps it takes to deal with private parking companies caught misusing personal data supplied by the motoring agencies."

Findings

The Committee found:

• The driver Certificate of Professional Competence may not be delivering all the benefits expected of it and the Government should negotiate changes at a European level.
• The agencies need to put into place effective assisted digital strategies to help those who cannot or are unwilling to use the internet to access new digital services as these roll out. 
• Work must take place in partnership with the Government Digital Service and others to address the problem of misleading copycat websites, which charge motorists for services that are available free from official websites;
• DVLA must do more to explain how it is required to share personal data with private parking companies and the safeguards that are in place to protect such data;
• DVLA needs to adjust the fees it charges to ensure the cost of providing vehicle keeper details to private parking companies are covered. It must also explain more clearly how it calculates its costs and sets fee levels.
• New services should be planned in a manner that deliver more effective data sharing, revenue collection, action on safety and enforcement,  especially given policy changes such as those on tax discs and driving licences. 

* The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) that uphold legal standards relating to driving tests, MoT tests and driver licensing