---

19 Jan 2010 : Column 232W—continued

The information provided may be only a proportion of total expenses potentially attributable to each individual. The figures shown relate to expenses for directly claimed costs where the individual has submitted a claim via our travel and subsistence system or has expense payments made through their salary. The amounts shown do not include expenses, which in some cases, could be the bulk of costs associated with travel (such as rail and air fares), as these are normally paid using a Government Procurement Card, the Government's credit card. To compile such information relating to expenses from this source would incur disproportionate cost.

Mr. Moss: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much was spent on the salaries of press officers employed by the Driving Standards Agency in each of the last three years. [311038]

Paul Clark: The Driving Standards Agency spent the following on press officer salaries in each of the last three years:

	£
2007-08	88,274
2008-09	123,299
2009-10	(1)68,398
(1) At 14 January 2010.

The amounts for the year 2008-2009 were higher owing to the costs of replacement cover for staff on maternity leave.

Driving Tests: Facilities

Mr. Moss: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what driving test centres have closed in each of the last three years. [311034]

Paul Clark: The total numbers of driving test centres (DTCs) that were relocated by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), in each of the last three years are shown in the following table. All DTCs were relocated to existing, new or better accommodation that offer more modern facilities.

19 Jan 2010 : Column 233W

	2007	2008	2009
Related to Multi Purpose Test Centre (MPTC) programme (see background note)	10	27	14
Operational relocations	0	6	6
Total	10	33	20

The actual DTCs that were relocated, in each of the last three years, in relation to the MPTC programme are shown in the following table.

19 Jan 2010 : Column 234W

	Test centre	MPTC
2007	Edinburgh, Joppa	Edinburgh, Musselburgh
2007	Exeter	Exeter
2007	Gateshead	Gateshead
2007	Glasgow, Mosspark	Glasgow, Shieldhall
2007	Hessle	Hull
2007	Hull	Hull
2007	Ipswich, LGV	Ipswich
2007	Ipswich, Woodbridge Road	Ipswich
2007	Rotherham	Rotherham
2007	Winchmore Hill	Enfield
2008	Darlington	Darlington
2008	Gainsborough	Scunthorpe
2008	Scunthorpe	Scunthorpe
2008	St. Helens	St. Helens
2008	Holyhead	Bangor
2008	Bristol LGV	Bristol
2008	Kings Lynn	Kings Lynn
2008	Peterborough	Peterborough
2008	Spalding	Peterborough
2008	Nottingham (Gedling)	Nottingham (Colwick)
2008	Nottingham (West Bridgford)	Nottingham (Colwick)
2008	Kirkcaldy	Kirkcaldy
2008	Burton on Trent	Burton on Trent
2008	Bexleyheath	Erith
2008	Lincoln	Lincoln
2008	Wellingborough	Kettering
2008	Kettering	Kettering
2008	Carlisle	Carlisle
2008	Chester	Chester
2008	Ellesmere Port	Chester
2008	Warrington	St Helens
2008	Cupar	Kirkcaldy
2008	Bristol St. Georges	Bristol
2008	Farnborough	Farnborough
2008	Gosport	Lee-on-Solent
2008	Southend-on-Sea	Basildon
2008	Birmingham, Washwood Heath	Birmingham, Garretts Green
2009	Brighton	Burgess Hill
2009	Hove	Burgess Hill
2009	Herne Bay	Herne Bay
2009	Broadstairs	Herne Bay
2009	Norwich	Norwich
2009	Aberdeen (Altens)	Aberdeen
2009	Swindon	Swindon
2009	Bangor	Bangor
2009	Swansea	Swansea
2009	Wigan	Atherton (Manchester)
2009	Blackburn	Blackburn with Darwen
2009	Plymouth	Plymouth
2009	Wolverhampton	Wolverhampton
2009	Stonehaven	Aberdeen

The actual DTCs that were relocated in each of the last three years for operational issues are in the following table.

	Test centre relocated from	Test centre relocated to
2008	Minehead	Taunton DTC
2008	Trowbridge	Chippenham DTC
2008	Wallington Mint House	Neighbouring DTCs (Sutton, Croydon and Morden)
2008	Weybridge	Chertsey
2008	Thornaby	Neighbouring DTCs (Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Darlington)
2008	Colwyn Bay	Rhyl DTC
2009	Haverfordwest	Pembroke Dock DTC (car); Cardigan (car); Carmarthen (m/c); Swansea MPTV (new m/c); Neath DTC (LGV)
2009	Hendon	Hendon DTC (new centre)
2009	Sheffield-Handsworth	Sheffield-Parkway DTC
2009	Kidderminster	Lower Gornal
2009	Southall	Southall (new centre)
2009	Greenford (Ruislip Road)	Southall

Mr. Moss: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which driving test centres are planned to be relocated in the next three years. [311035]

Paul Clark: The driving test centres that the Driving Standards Agency is currently planning to relocate to new locations over the next three years are shown in the following table. These 45 relocations are subject to finding suitable operational locations, negotiating suitable terms with landowners and/or landlords and obtaining any required planning consent.

---