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| DVLA offices in Wales set to close and centralise in Swansea | DVLA offices in Wales set to close and centralise in Swansea |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Plans to close 39 regional Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency offices and centralise services at the DVLA's headquarters in Swansea have been unveiled. | Plans to close 39 regional Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency offices and centralise services at the DVLA's headquarters in Swansea have been unveiled. |
| The UK government says it is responding to demand for more services to be available online. | The UK government says it is responding to demand for more services to be available online. |
| A consultation has started with 1,213 UK staff, including 77 at regional offices in Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea. | A consultation has started with 1,213 UK staff, including 77 at regional offices in Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea. |
| The Ministry of Transport said it could save £28m a year. | The Ministry of Transport said it could save £28m a year. |
| The DVLA, which keeps driver and vehicle records, employs a total of 6,116 people. | |
| Around 5,000 work at the long-established Swansea headquarters and it thought around 400 jobs could be created there, including relocations. | |
| Ten of the 39 regional centres include enforcement centres which carry out a range of back-office duties relating to tax and insurance offences. | Ten of the 39 regional centres include enforcement centres which carry out a range of back-office duties relating to tax and insurance offences. |
| These would close as well. | These would close as well. |
| Roads Minister Mike Penning said he expected the centres to close by the end of 2013. | |
| "This is a major step change which will make dealing with the DVLA easier and quicker for motorists and businesses up and down the country," he said. | "This is a major step change which will make dealing with the DVLA easier and quicker for motorists and businesses up and down the country," he said. |
| "Centralising the DVLA's services is the first crucial step towards making more of its transactions available online, allowing people to deal with the DVLA at their chosen time and place. | "Centralising the DVLA's services is the first crucial step towards making more of its transactions available online, allowing people to deal with the DVLA at their chosen time and place. |
| "This will mean quicker turnarounds and meet our customers' growing needs." | "This will mean quicker turnarounds and meet our customers' growing needs." |
| The consultation with staff has started. | |
| DVLA employs 77 staff in its three regional offices in Wales with 12 staff in Bangor, 35 in Cardiff and 30 in Swansea. | DVLA employs 77 staff in its three regional offices in Wales with 12 staff in Bangor, 35 in Cardiff and 30 in Swansea. |
| "Horrendous timing" | |
| Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said she was pleased the Swansea headquarters could become more central in delivering services for the whole of the UK. | |
| "The proposed review of DVLA services is important in providing the right choice and flexibility for motorists to access services they require," she said. | |
| Byron Davies AM, Conservative transport spokesman said it was right to look at efficiency. | |
| "The DVLA is a major local employer and it is welcome that the Conservative-led coalition is seeking to consolidate DVLA operations in south Wales," he said. | |
| But Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon, said it was "very unwelcome news" in Bangor. | |
| "The timing of this announcement is horrendous - a week or two before Christmas - especially as plans were leaked more than a year ago," he added. | |
| "The DVLA office in Bangor employs around a dozen people and is the only regional centre of its type in north Wales. | |
| "This will mean a reduction in service to the public and a hit to the local economy." |