DVLA closures drive Doran to debate

Aberdeen North MP, Frank Doran, has been debating government plans to close the DVLA offices in Aberdeen and Inverness.
 The issue was raised by Mr Doran late this morning at a Westminster Hall debate in the House of Commons.

The plans have been put forward to save £28m by closing 39 offices across the UK.

The Labour MP said that he feared "prosecutions will drop" if the DVLA offices were closed.

He questioned Transport Minister Mike Penning: "What's the cost of sending an officer to Shetland or to Aberdeen? And what are they likely to get in the way of fine?"

Mr Penning responded that he wanted "to see prosecutions go up and not down" and that measures would be taken so officers would be fully prepared to handle any case.

The 10 staff at the Aberdeen office protested last month against the proposed closure.

Matthew Bramwell