To ask the Minister of the Environment how his Department is working with the DVLA offices in Swansea to address teething problems since the centralisation of services from Coleraine.

Vehicle registration and licensing services were centralised within the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea on 21 July 2014. From that date, responsibility for the delivery of vehicle registration and licences in Northern Ireland transferred to DVLA.

Following the transfer, I was aware that the DVLA were experiencing a number of transitional issues which were affecting local customers. I wrote to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Robert Goodwill MP, on 13 August 2014, on behalf of Northern Ireland customers to express my disappointment that the level of service provided by DVLA was not of the high standard expected in Northern Ireland.

In response to my letter, Claire Perry MP, replied confirming that she was aware that there were issues with a small number of records, reassuring me that these would be rectified as a matter of priority. DVLA have since stated, at official level, that the initial teething problems have been rectified.

Since the transfer of the service to Swansea, DVA has no access to the DVLA system to monitor or resolve issues relating to Northern Ireland motorists. Therefore, should you need to highlight a particular issue on behalf of a constituent you can raise it directly with the DVLA at the address below:

Mr Oliver Morley

Chief Executive

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Swansea

SA6 7JL

There is also a dedicated telephone number and email address for MPs and other elected representatives, including MLAs, to contact DVLA on behalf of their constituents. Emails should be sent to dvlaministerials@dvla.gsi.gov.uk, or alternatively the telephone number is 01792 788585.