Driving Examiner
John Atkin Deputy head of communication at the Driving Standards Agency, has made the following comment concerning this news article.
“The claims have been made by the PCS union based on its own interpretation of what it says are leaked documents.
All DSA has said is that we are looking at how we can improve the driver testing and training process. However, no decisions have been taken on future testing provision.”
Britain’s driving test centres could possibly be closed with plans for examiners to be located in variety of private firms, such as supermarkets. It is said that the DSA has studied the plan to axe test centres and transfer them to private firms, but this is only a possible future plan.
Angus SNP MP Mike Weir said: “Those whom it will impact have had no chance to make their views known. They are being faced with a diktat from an uncaring government agency.”
According to the Public and Commercial Services union, the DSA is to cut the costs. It also said that the idea of driving tests to be conducted by other private firms has been discussed.
General Secretary Mark Serwotka said: “These new documents shed more light on the plans being hatched behind closed doors by senior managers and ministers. Worryingly, it is the latest evidence of the creeping privatisation of the agency’s work, which puts ideology before road safety.”