Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

HC Deb 12 March 2003 vol 401 cc252-4W

Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport What his estimate is of the(a) gross and (b) net costs of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for each year

Published Business Accounts
£000
	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
(a) Gross costs	187,010	190,402	187,129	186,140	190,439	203,856
(b) Costs net of income	101,969	108,078	102,302	101,026	99,676	100,672

£000
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
(a) Gross costs	195,733	212,226	231,012	249,192	292,473
(b) Costs net of income	85,057	(715)	13,760	5,470	10,388

Allocated Funds Provisional
£000
	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
(a) Gross costs	368,795	285,952	284,742	284,507
(b) Cost net of income	109,831	88,150	87,250	87,250

The figures reflect provisional funds allocated to DVLA for 2002–03 to 2005–06 from the Department of Transport's spending review settlements and other agreed changes. Income includes revenue from sale of registration marks and other income paid over to the Exchequer as Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts but excludes Vehicle Excise Duty collected by DVLA.

DVLA's annual report shows unit cost efficiency gains in core activities averaging 3.4 per cent. a year. Transaction volumes have grown by an average of some 3 per cent. a year. From 1998 the Agency's core operations were extended by a number of major policy changes and business delivery improvements like photocard driving licences and graduated vehicle excise duty, which resulted in significant cost increases.

In addition, 1998–99 saw the introduction of a fee for vehicle first registrations and an increase in demand for personalised registration marks.

Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reasons underlie the increase in staffing of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency between 1998–99 and 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [101521]

Mr. Jamieson

The number of staff employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency at the end of 2002–03 is forecast to be 5,835 full time equivalent posts, which is 1,427 higher than at the end of 1998–99. The main reasons for the increase are(a) major new initiatives such as the Statutory Off-Road Notification scheme for unlicensed vehicles, photocard driving licences and Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty (577 posts); (b) other projects such as the implementation of the mandatory vehicle registration document scheme and to support London congestion charging; to safeguard delivery of the core business

from 1990–91 to 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. [101520]

Mr. Jamieson

The information requested is available from 1991–92 and is as followssuch as improving the accuracy of the database and the new strategic partnership to support DVLA's substantial change programme of service delivery improvements (550 posts); (c) increased workload involving initiatives to improve customer service delivery such as the introduction of extended hours in the Agency's call centre and growth in business volumes (23 per cent. higher than in 1998-99). The full impact on staffing levels from workload growth has been offset by more efficient working practices and the increase in electronic business (300 posts).