§ 12. Mr. Porterasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.
§ Mr. FowlerI have already announced changes in the vehicle excise duty system, which will enable us to cut out over 1,000 posts in administration. Most of these posts are in the local vehicle licensing offices which operate under the control of the centre at Swansea and are in addition to some 400 posts already saved over the last year at the centre. Apart from issuing driving licences the main function at the centre is to maintain the central register of drivers and vehicles which we continue to need for road safety and other purposes.