In 2025, Sir Keir Starmer announced a massive review of quangos, including the abolition of the “world’s largest” arm’s-length body, NHS England.

Labour is said to be considering merging the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which manages driving tests and MOTs, according to The Telegraph.

Mr Burnham has pushed his so-called devolution agenda in No10 to give more powers to Britain’s regional mayors.

Both of the departments have been criticised for failings.

The DVSA has been slammed for repeated delays at driving test centres, with an average British driver waiting over 19 weeks for a test.

Waiting times fell in September, however, and the department has insisted it was making “real progress” for aspiring drivers.

The DVLA has also regularly missed its target of clearing people as medically fit to drive within 50 days.

Officials have also been re-examining the abolition of NHS England.

The plan to scrap the world’s largest quango was announced last year by Wes Streeting, in a move the Government said would “reduce complex bureaucracy”.

But the initial plan to fold the agency’s staff into the civil service fell apart because NHS managers earn more than their Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) counterparts.

Instead, the Government established a new quango, allowing NHS England staff to remain on their current contracts.

Another source told the newspaper that Sir Keir’s plans to transform Whitehall departments were “kind of being resurrected” by Mr Burnham.

Sir Keir, in 2025, said Labour could not justify the duplication of work between NHS England and the DHSC.

He went further, saying Westminster created agencies as a “knee-jerk response to difficult questions, to difficult lobbies”, rather than engage in “active government”.

Yvette Cooper, the Health Secretary, has insisted the new quango, announced earlier this week, would be a “temporary arrangement that will support the transition to a more devolved model”.

Mr Burnham’s “10-year plan” speech was set for the end of this year, but will now likely be delayed until January.

He told The Economist last week: “We may go into the new year – to be honest, there is that. December or January – I think we will need to leave that open.”

The Prime Minister in July said the plan would set a path from “where we are now to where I believe we all want Britain to be”.

DVLA Could Be Scrapped in Andy Burnham’s 10-Year Plan: A Major Shake-Up of Britain’s Transport System

The possibility of scrapping the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has become a major topic of discussion in British politics. As part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s ambitious 10-year plan to reform the country, the government is reportedly considering abolishing or merging the DVLA with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The proposal is part of a wider effort to reduce bureaucracy, improve public services and transfer more powers from central government to regional authorities. However, although the reform could bring significant benefits, it also raises important questions about efficiency, public convenience and the future of Britain’s transport administration.

The DVLA is one of the most important public agencies in the United Kingdom. Based in Swansea, Wales, it is responsible for managing driving licence records, vehicle registration and vehicle taxation. It maintains information on approximately 53 million drivers and around 47 million vehicles across Great Britain. Millions of individuals and businesses depend on its services every year. From renewing driving licences and registering vehicles to paying road tax, the agency plays an essential role in people’s everyday lives.

Under the proposed changes, the DVLA could be merged with the DVSA, an organisation responsible for conducting driving tests, supervising vehicle standards and regulating MOT testing. Bringing these two agencies together would potentially create a single organisation responsible for a wider range of driving and vehicle-related services. Instead of dealing with separate government bodies, motorists might be able to access more services through one central system.

One of the main reasons behind the proposed reform is the government’s desire to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. Over the years, Britain has developed a complicated system of public organisations, many of which have overlapping responsibilities. Maintaining separate agencies can increase administrative costs, create communication difficulties and slow down decision-making. By combining the DVLA and DVSA, the government hopes to eliminate duplication, reduce operational expenses and make public services more efficient.

Another important motivation is the need to improve customer experience. Both organisations have faced criticism over delays and administrative problems. The DVSA has experienced difficulties providing timely practical driving tests, leaving some learner drivers waiting for months before they can take their examinations. Such delays can negatively affect young people’s employment opportunities, education and personal independence. For people who need a driving licence to work, waiting for a test can create serious financial and professional difficulties.

The DVLA has also faced criticism, particularly regarding delays in processing medical assessments for drivers. Some individuals, especially professional lorry and bus drivers, have experienced difficulties renewing their licences because their applications require additional medical checks. In certain circumstances, these delays can affect their ability to continue working. For professional drivers, even a relatively short interruption can result in lost income and uncertainty about their future employment.

According to recent reports, these problems have encouraged policymakers to consider whether the current administrative structure is still suitable for modern Britain. A merger could make it easier for government departments to share information, coordinate their activities and respond more quickly to public needs. If implemented successfully, the reform could provide motorists with a simpler and more convenient service.

Digital transformation is another important factor in the government’s plans. Modern technology has changed the way people interact with public services. Many administrative procedures that previously required paper documents and face-to-face appointments can now be completed online. A combined DVLA-DVSA organisation could invest in more advanced digital systems, allowing drivers to renew licences, manage vehicle records, pay taxes and arrange driving tests through a more integrated platform.

Furthermore, artificial intelligence and data-sharing technology could help improve administrative processes. For example, automated systems might identify incomplete applications, send renewal reminders and direct complicated medical cases to the appropriate departments. These improvements could reduce human errors and shorten processing times. However, technological development must be accompanied by strong data protection measures to ensure that the personal information of millions of drivers remains secure.

Despite these potential advantages, scrapping the DVLA is not without risks. One major concern is that merging two large organisations could create temporary disruption. Combining different management structures, computer systems, employees and administrative procedures is a complicated process. If the transition is poorly managed, motorists could experience even longer delays and greater difficulties accessing essential services.

Another concern is the possible impact on employees. The DVLA and DVSA employ thousands of people across different locations in Britain. Organisational restructuring could lead to changes in job responsibilities, relocation or even redundancies. Although the government may argue that reducing administrative costs is necessary, it must also consider the livelihoods of public-sector workers and the economic importance of government employment in local communities.

There are also concerns about regional inequality. Andy Burnham has strongly supported the idea of transferring more decision-making powers from Westminster to regional mayors. This approach, commonly known as devolution, aims to give local leaders greater control over policies affecting their communities. In principle, this could make government more responsive because local authorities understand the specific needs of their populations.

Nevertheless, not every public service should necessarily be decentralised. Driving licences and vehicle registration require consistent national standards. A person driving from Manchester to London should be subject to the same licensing requirements and vehicle regulations. If too many responsibilities were transferred to individual regions, there could be differences in administrative procedures and service quality. Therefore, any reform must carefully balance local decision-making with national consistency.

It is also important to recognise that abolishing an organisation does not automatically solve the problems associated with it. The experience of other government restructuring projects, including the complicated process of abolishing NHS England, demonstrates that institutional reform can be more difficult and expensive than initially expected. Simply changing an agency’s name or management structure will not necessarily improve the quality of services.

For this reason, the government’s priority should be to identify the underlying causes of administrative failures. If delays are caused by insufficient staffing, outdated technology or ineffective management, these problems must be addressed directly. A merger should be supported by adequate funding, clear responsibilities and realistic implementation targets. Otherwise, the reform could become another expensive government project that fails to deliver meaningful improvements.

From the public’s perspective, the most important question is not whether the DVLA continues to exist as an independent organisation. What matters is whether drivers receive faster, more reliable and more accessible services. People want to renew their licences without unnecessary complications, receive their vehicle documents on time and book driving tests without waiting for several months. Professional drivers also need confidence that medical assessments and licence renewals will be completed efficiently.

The government must therefore communicate clearly with the public throughout the reform process. Any changes should be introduced gradually, with sufficient support for motorists who are less familiar with digital technology. Older people, individuals with disabilities and those living in areas with limited internet access should not be excluded from essential services. Traditional telephone and postal services may still be necessary for certain groups.

In conclusion, the possibility of scrapping or merging the DVLA under Andy Burnham’s 10-year plan represents a significant opportunity to modernise Britain’s transport administration. Combining the DVLA and DVSA could reduce bureaucracy, improve coordination and create more efficient services for millions of drivers. However, the proposal also presents considerable challenges, including organisational disruption, employment uncertainty, data protection concerns and the need to maintain consistent national standards.

Ultimately, successful reform should be measured by practical results rather than political promises. The government must ensure that any restructuring genuinely benefits motorists, employees and the wider public. The DVLA may eventually disappear as an independent agency, but its essential responsibilities will remain. What Britain needs is not simply a smaller government, but a smarter, more accountable and more effective public administration capable of meeting the demands of the next decade.