By Marino Donati | 7 October 2014
Government motoring agencies must work harder to provide better services to all customers, according to the Commons transport select committee.
Committee chair Louise Ellman, the Labour/Co-operative MP for Liverpool Riverside, has called on the Department for Transport to make sure that the recent reorganisation of agencies including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) delivers high quality services that benefit everyone.
The DVLA and DVSA uphold legal standards relating to driving tests, MoT tests and driver licensing. Launching a report, Government motoring agencies – the user perspective, Ellman said that recent problems when road tax renewal went online showed the need for clearer communication.
'DVLA and DVSA are important for delivering essential services related to tax, licensing, testing, and vehicle safety,' she said. 'The Department for Transport must ensure that its current reorganisation programme for these agencies delivers high quality services that benefit everyone.'
The report also said the agencies must still be able to serve customers without online access, as well as warn people about ‘copycat’ websites charging for services provided for free by motoring agencies.
The committee’s report also called on the DVLA to explain the legal basis for sharing personal data with parking enforcement organisations and to tackle companies caught misusing personal data supplied by motoring agencies.
