Dear Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport

IMPROVE COVID SAFETY TO GET DVLA BACK TO WORK

I am writing in solidarity with striking DVLA workers, to call on your department to fulfil the unions request to improve covid safety thereby resolving the strike action and restoring full service to DVLA.

There are hundreds of people across the country who have had their applications for new or updated licences delayed.

I applied for my provisional licence back in March 2021, completed the many duplicated medical forms immediately and yet it took a staggering 20 weeks to arrive following the intervention of my MP. With public transport in my area so poor, as it is in many areas of the country, this licence is critical for me. Like many others, I had to postpone my driving lessons until the licence arrived which creates an issue for instructors who will surely soon run out of learners to teach.

I am calling on the Department for Transport to re-open discussions with DVLA and the PCS Union to resolve workers fears about workplace covid safety. It is crucial that the workers requests are met as without them DVLA service is virtually non-existent.