To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he has had with the chief executives of (a) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (c) the Driving Standards Agency since his appointment. (263381)

The Secretary of State met the chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency in November to discuss the ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation. I have regular update meetings with these agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department employs to ensure the value for money of expenditure by (a) the Driving Standards Agency, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (c) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. (263382)

The Driving Standards Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency along with two other executive agencies and three central policy directorates form the Safety, Service Delivery and Logistics Group (SSDL) of the Department for Transport.

During 2006 and as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review these executive agencies undertook a zero-based review of their key services in order to identify opportunities for improved efficiency or effectiveness in the delivery of those services.

The results of the zero-based review was a value for money delivery plan that targets £112 million of efficiencies and cost savings over the 2008-11 years resulting from a combination of:

the consumer take-up of new and existing electronic services;

the use of information to more effectively target enforcement activities;

the introduction of new working practices and processes; and

the rationalisation of the Group’s estate.

In addition, the SSDL Group seeks to ensure that value for money principles are embedded in all of its activities by including the requirement for agencies to undertake external benchmarking of processes that are being renewed or changed.