Equality and diversity

This information page was withdrawn on

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency was replaced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on 1 April 2014. You can read about equality and diversity at DVSA.


The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) closed on 31 March 2014. It has been replaced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This is the information about VOSA that was published at the point that it closed. It is no longer current.

The Equality Act 2010 contains a new integrated public sector Equality Duty, which came into force on 5 April 2011.

The new duty brings together the original duties on race, gender and disability and extends to cover gender reassignment, age, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

Section 149 of the Equality Act requires public bodies to:

  • consider all individuals when carrying out their day to day work – in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to their own employees
  • have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not, with the aim of making society fairer

The Equality Duty supports good decision making. Public bodies can be more efficient and effective by understanding:

  • the effect of their activities on different people
  • how inclusive public services can support and open up people’s opportunities

Specific duties that will help public bodies to meet the general duty include:

  • publishing information each year to demonstrate compliance with the general Equality Duty
  • publishing equality objectives every 4 years

Publishing equality information

VOSA publishes a range of information about equality and diversity.

VOSA also publishes:

VOSA also consults using less formal approaches, such as meetings or workshops, letters and surveys.

Changes to service delivery

VOSA has conducted equality impact assessments when proposed changes to service delivery were made, in particular, test centre closures. Major projects which are likely to impact on protected characteristic groups were also assessed.

VOSA has conducted equality analysis (previously termed equality impact assessments) when proposed changes to service delivery were made, in particular, test station closures and relocations.

Major projects which are likely to impact on protected characteristic groups were also analysed.

The most recent ‘analysis’ is in the publication list below. Assessments from before November 2012 are available on the National Archive website.