I have been contacted by a number of constituents who have been affected by the closure of HGV driving tests during the pandemic. Whilst I understand that pausing driving tests has been necessary for the safety of those involved, I fully appreciate how difficult this has been for students who have been forced to wait months to take their tests. I raised these concerns to Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Minister for Roads, Buses and Places at the Department for Transport and I am pleased to hear that testing has now restarted.
In order to cope with the backlog of tests, the DVSA will now be conducting approximately 3,000 tests per week; double the number of tests conducted before the pandemic. This is being facilitated through extended operating hours, and the recruitment of 300 new HGV examiners. I know this news will be welcomed by people across the country who are eager to take their tests.
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