Guidance

DVSA consultations: privacy notice

Updated 2 December 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dvsa-privacy-notices/dvsa-consultation-service-privacy-notice

1. About consultations

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) consults with you to make decisions on matters of legislation or policy, to improve our services and to improve our accountability to you. DVSA is an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT).

We carry out consultations with the public to improve the creation of policy to support legislation and how we implement it. We consult with you so that you can provide your views on the policy or service that is of interest to you.

We will either ask you to reply to the consultation on SmartSurvey or directly to consultations@dvsa.gov.uk.

The data controller for DVSA is DfT - a data controller determines the reasons and how personal data is processed. For more information see the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Data Protection Public Register. DfT’s registration number is Z7122992.

2. What data we need

The personal data we collect from you will include:

  • name and title
  • email address
  • postal address
  • capacity in which you are responding company name (where relevant)
  • company address (where relevant)
  • your views and opinions on the consultation

The lawful basis for processing your data where changes are being made to regulations that are made under the powers in the Road Traffic Act 1998 is legal obligation. The Secretary of State has a duty to consult with any organisations as he sees fit as set out in Section 195 of the Road Traffic Act 1998.

We will also consult on DVSA’s processes or procedures that are a matter of custom and practise, although there may not be a duty to consult. This is in accordance with the government’s commitment to engage in a clear and proportionate way with the public. Where this applies to your data, the lawful basis for processing will be public task.

You can read the consultation principles guidance.

3. Why we need it

We need the personal data we collect from you to:

  • send you details of the consultation
  • provide you with the consultation in an alternative format, such as Braille or audio CD
  • take part in the consultation
  • provide your views on the consultation
  • contact you should we need to in relation to your consultation response

4. What we do with it

We collect, use and store the data you give us for the reasons set out in this policy.

We will not:

  • sell or rent your data to third parties
  • share your data with third parties for marketing purposes

We use the software provided by an external company called SmartSurvey to create our online consultations and collect your responses.

We will:

  • publish anonymised individual responses to the consultation on GOV.UK
  • share anonymised individual responses to the consultation with DfT
  • typically disclose the name of the organisation responding to the consultation on GOV.UK and to DfT

We will share your data if required to do so by law – for example, by court order, or to prevent fraud or other crime.

5. How long we keep your data

We will only keep your personal data for as long as it is needed for the reasons set out in this policy or as long as is required by law.

We will hold your personal data for no longer than three years after the end of the consultation.

6. Where it might go

Our IT infrastructure and technology has been checked to make sure it’s safe and secure.

SmartSurvey is hosted in the UK. You can read their privacy notice.

7. Protecting your data and your rights

The DVSA personal information charter sets out what steps are taken to protect your data, and the rights you have over your data.

8. Automated decision making and profiling

Your data is not subject to automated decision making or profiling as defined in data protection legislation.

9. Changes to this notice

We may change this privacy notice at our discretion at any time.

When we change this notice, the date on the page will be updated. Any changes to this privacy notice will be applied to you and your data as of the revision date.

We encourage you to periodically review this privacy notice to be informed about how your data is protected.

10. How to contact us

If you have any questions about anything in this document or if you consider that your personal data has been misused or mishandled you can contact the DVSA data protection manager.

DVSA data protection manager

Data Protection Manager
DVSA
1 Unity Square
Nottingham
NG2 1AY

Contact DVSA customer services if you have a query that is not about how your personal data is used.

You may also make a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who is an independent regulator.

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