Research and analysis

DVSA business impact target: summary of non-qualifying regulatory provisions, 2021 to 2022

Published 22 December 2022

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Introduction

The business impact target (BIT) is the government’s target for savings to business and voluntary or community bodies.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) measures the financial impact of changes to practices, policy or guidance it regulates (known as ‘regulatory provisions’). DVSA follows the BIT methodology to do this. This is then validated by the Regulatory Policy Committee.

Some regulatory provisions count towards the business impact target and others do not. They’re called:

• qualifying regulatory provisions (QRPs) if they count towards the target
• non-qualifying regulatory provisions (NQRPs) if they do not count towards the target

Qualifying regulatory provisions

In the reporting period of 2021 to 2022, there were no qualifying regulatory provisions.

Non-qualifying regulatory provisions

By law, we have to publish a summary each year of all the non-qualifying regulatory provisions that have come into force, ceased to be in force, or have changed.

This report shows the ones for the reporting period of 2021 to 2022. They’re listed by the different categories of regulatory provisions that are excluded from the business impact target.

1. Measures certified as being below de minimis (measures with an Equivalent Annual Net Direct Cost to Business (EANDCB) below +/- £5 million)

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

2. Pro-competition

DVSA continues to support new businesses that carry out roadworthiness tests on vehicles. It has approved 266 new MOT garages, or garages under new ownership, and has a further 231 applications in progress. In this reporting period it has also approved 18 new Approved Test Facilities (for testing commercial vehicles). These approvals help to create open competition in the respective sectors.

In addition, DVSA publishes data on the MOT history of vehicles. This allows consumers access to information to decide which vehicles, private or commercial, to purchase.

In this reporting period it has also started publishing vehicle roadside encounter information. This gives businesses, that might want to use a haulier, visibility of operator compliance. It should also improve road safety by helping people who want to hire a coach to make an informed choice.

3. Systemic financial risk

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

4. Civil emergencies

In order to assist the country with the movement of goods DVSA introduced a target to reduce the number of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) encounters, where the vehicle proved to be complaint, by 10%. The aim being to reduce the disruption caused to complaint business from enforcement checks. As a result, compliant roadside encounters have decreased by approximately 12,500 between April and November.

In order to assist the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, DVSA introduced a series of measures to reduce driving test waiting times, especially for those wanting to acquire ‘vocational’ licences. This included training up car examiners to conduct vocational tests, recruiting new examiners and increasing overtime. As a result, the weekly number of heavy goods vehicle test slots increased by 90%. DVSA is continuing to work hard to get test waiting times down.

5. Fines and penalties

During the period, in its roadworthiness enforcement role, DVSA continued to target the serially non-complaint operators. That resulted in finding around 12,000 serious offences and produced around £4.4 million in roadside fines.

Although the fines are for the driver to pay rather than the operator, information about hauliers and passenger service operators that are not compliant is also reported to the Office of the Traffic Commissioners.

6. Misuse of drugs

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

7. Measures certified as relating to the safety of tenants, residents and occupants in response to the Grenfell tragedy

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.

8. Casework

DVSA introduced a system to analyse MOT garage data remotely and target on site inspections. This allows garages to continue to operate their business uninterrupted. It also allows DVSA to redeploy resources towards garages suspected of being non-compliant.

DVSA’s Counter Fraud and Investigation Team has processed over 1,200 cases through the period leading prosecutions such as custodial and suspended sentences, fines, community service and driving disqualifications.

9. Education, communications and promotion

In order that the public can better understand our services, and that the sectors that we regulate have correct guidance, DVSA frequently posts information on GOV.UK.

In this reporting period, up to 7 November, it published 71 items of broader interest, including test statistics, complaints procedures, Freedom of Information logs, and guidance such as how to be ready for the driving test and on learning to tow a trailer.

It also published 31 items of interest to wider industry, for example, on vehicle maintenance and how to apply for vehicle approval.

Finally, it published 54 items of specific interest to the business people that it regulates, such as updates on the MOT manual and businesses in the DVSA earned recognition scheme.

10. Activity related to policy development

On motorcycle training, DVSA is considering introducing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for motorcycle trainers. A de-minimis impact assessment has been prepared for this measure which shows the cost to the industry to be about £18,000 per annum.

11. Changes to management of regulator

Following consideration of the exclusion category there are no measures for the reporting period that qualify for the exclusion.