H.M. TREASURY

HM Treasury News Release

115/99

9 July 1999

SEAMLESS SERVICE FOR NEW DRIVERS

Motorists who pass their driving test will be automatically registered for a full driving license without the need for paperwork due to 2.8 million Pounds backing from the Capital Modernisation Fund announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Alan Milburn, today.

Driving examiners will use hand-held computer terminals to record and transmit test results at the end of each test direct to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) who will then issue a full driving licence. It will cut out the need for a paper driving test certificate, filling in a driving test application form and having to then post it to the DVLA for processing.

Announcing the funding decision Mr Milburn, said:

"This is an innovative project which harnesses the latest technology for the benefit of the motorist. It will cut out unnecessary red tape and so offer faster, better services. It shows how Government is investing to modernise our public services."

This project is part of the Government's programme to modernise driver training and testing. Commenting, Lord Whitty, the DETR Minister responsible for Driver and Vehicle Agencies said:

"I very much welcome the decision to employ the Capital Modernisation Fund for this purpose. The project is a good example of the kind of new customer friendly services for motorists that we envisaged in last year's Transport White Paper. By joining up the work of two of our Agencies we are simplifying procedures to provide a better overall customer service."

The system to be developed, which will be introduced in 2001, aims to make full use of cellular mobile phone technology and should provide a speedier and more direct method of gathering information for the DVLA and DSA.

Notes to Editors

1. The 2.5 billion Pounds Capital Modernisation Fund was set up in the Comprehensive Spending Review to support capital investment to improve public services. The Fund is allocated as 0.25 billion Pounds in 1999-00, 1 billion Pounds in 2000-01 and 1.25 billion Pounds in 2001-02. 1.1 billion Pounds of investment from the Fund was announced in this years Budget. A further round of bidding will be held over the course of 1999-2000.

2. The CMF was allocated on a competitive basis on the following criteria:

the quality and merit of the bidding department(s) Departmental Investment Strategy;
the quality and strength of the economic appraisal of the project;
how far the project contributes to the department's objectives, in particular whether it will reduce the cost of delivering public services and improve the quality and effectiveness of services;
how far the project applies innovative approaches;
the robustness of arrangements for delivering, managing, accounting, monitoring and evaluating the project; and
how far the project is genuinely additional.

3. Agency Press Office contacts:

DVLA: 01792 782070

DSA: 0115 901 2852

4. If you have access to the Internet you can find this news material at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. Other Treasury material can be found at this address.