Written question asked by Malcolm Moss (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 January 2010. It was answered by Paul Clark (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Driving Tests: Wisbech

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the net effects on his Department's expenditure will be of relocation of the Wisbech driving test centre to Kings Lynn in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.

Answer: The Wisbech Driving Test Centre is planned to remain operational until 31 March 2010, so there will be no savings associated with its relocation to Kings Lynn in this financial year.In future years the Driving Standards Agency will save the accommodation costs for Wisbech—currently £11,386 per annum, and the costs of examiners travelling from Kings Lynn to Wisbech to conduct driving tests as Wisbech did not have permanent staff assigned—currently £5,100 per annum.A test centre providing facilities to conduct the off-road element of the new practical motorcycling test required by European legislation was needed to serve the Kings Lynn and Wisbech area.We want to maximise the benefit from the costs invested in providing the new facility. This involved a capital cost of £2.3 million which was greater than average owing to environmental requirements. This would have been necessary irrespective of the relocation from Wisbech.

Secondary information