- the independent review will ensure that DVLA can continue to
provide a licensing service to motorists and the public
- the review is part of a wider government programme looking
into the effectiveness and efficiency of public bodies
- DVLA will be assessed on efficiency, efficacy, accountability
and governance – the 4 pillars set by Cabinet Office
The government has today launched an independent review of the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) so that it can
continue to provide excellent customer-focused digital services
to keep drivers and vehicles on the road simply, safely and
efficiently.
With over 50 million driver records and more than 40 million
vehicle records, the DVLA maintains
the correct registration and licensing of millions of drivers
while protecting data and tackling vehicle tax evasion.
DVLA also
collects £7 billion in vehicle excise duty (VED) annually on behalf of HM
Treasury and is a net contributor to government finances, raising
more than £260 million in 2022-23 for HM Treasury and the
Department for Transport (DfT) through the sale and
processing of personalised registrations and transfers.
The review will assess DVLA based on
the 4 pillars set by the Cabinet Office of efficiency, efficacy,
accountability and governance. Further detail on areas the
review will cover can be found in the terms of reference.
Janette Beinart, non-executive director of the Cabinet Office and
National Highways and previously Vice President and Global Chief
Information Officer at Shell International, has been appointed to
lead the review with support from DfT officials. The
review is expected to conclude this winter.
Roads Minister said:
DVLA plays a
crucial role in making sure drivers and vehicles can get around
legally, safely and with confidence, giving drivers peace of mind
by storing their records safely and tackling vehicle tax evasion.
With over 80% of all transactions now being carried out online,
this review will help us understand how the DVLA can
continue to grow from strength to strength and how we can support
it to become more digital to efficiently serve the increasingly
digitally savvy driver.
The review will also assess how DVLA works with
its wide range of stakeholders within and outside of government
to help keep Britain’s roads safe.
DVLA Non-Executive
Chair, Lesley Cowley OBE, said:
Our customers remain at the heart of everything we do
at DVLA and we
welcome this review as an opportunity to highlight our commitment
to delivering world-class services, our role in keeping Britain’s
roads safe, and the continued hard work and dedication of our
over 6,000 staff.
It comes at an important time for DVLA, as we continue
to launch new digital services and set ambitious targets for the
future, as a forward thinking, dynamic organisation.
We look forward to working closely with the government in support
of this review over the coming weeks and months.
