His reply;
Hi *****
The training staff at Cardington are, and have always been, trained examiners. Some are there on a permanent secondment for around three years, and during that time will conduct driving tests to keep up their competency levels, others will be driving examiners from around the DSA network who work as trainers for 4 to 6 weeks at a time.
I suggest your next approach should be directly to the Minister.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can be of further use.
Regards
With this information, I wrote to the Rt. Hon Patrick Mcloughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport. (I also copied in my email to the Shadow Minister of Transport) Basically I stated much the same as my email to the former CDE.
I receive a reply but not from the Minister, but from the DSA. So the government agency which I complained about, for a possible conflict of interest is given the platform to answer my complaint.
Their reply is at the end of this document.
Another member of the branch Mr ******* also wrote to the DSA asking about the cost of the contract with the Highways Agency;
Dear Sir,
I have heard that the DSA is/has been carrying out B+E training for Highway Agency staff at Cardington.
Can you please tell me if DSA has been paid by the Highways Agency for this work and if so, at what rate?
Yours sincerely,
Our ref: 1210/01504
6 November 2012
Dear *****
Thank you for your email of 31 October.
I am sorry I cannot help you with your enquiry, the information you are asking for is a confidential arrangement between government agencies under Protect Commercial.
Yours sincerely
Carole Hodgson
Corporate Correspondence