ACOBA is operating as usual but working remotely in line with Government advice on COVID-19. We are contactable via our usual channels.  

However, please note that post is not being sent or received regularly and the best way to contact us and stay in touch is electronically on acoba@acoba.gov.uk.

Applicants should also be aware of the current demand being placed on departmental resources, which is likely to increase the time taken for government departments to deal with Business Appointment Rules related queries.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is suspending driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales for up to 3 months from 21 March 2020.

The decision has been made to help prevent the spread of coronavirus as tests lead to extended contact between candidates and examiners in vehicles.

Motorcycle tests are also being suspended.

DVSA has put in place plans to provide tests for critical workers.

Protecting the public

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We are having to take big decisions to protect the public in our national battle against COVID-19. Regrettably, we have had to suspend driver testing for up to 3 months to help tackle the spread of the virus.

It is vital that those who need a test can get one so DVSA is offering tests to those who have a critical need, such as the NHS and drivers delivering goods across the UK.

Those who have tests cancelled will have priority when testing resumes.

The tests being suspended include:

• car driving tests
• motorcycle tests
• lorry, coach and bus driving tests
• approve driving instructor (ADI) tests and checks

DVSA will contact everyone with a test booked during this time to let them know their test has been cancelled and that it will automatically re-book for them.

The decision will be kept under review. The latest information about driving tests and COVID-19 is on GOV.UK.

MOTs for lorries, buses and trailers

DVSA has suspended MOTs (annual tests) for all heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs) for up to 3 months from 21 March 2020.

All HGV and PSV vehicles with an MOT will be issued with a 3-month certificate of temporary exemption (CTE) until further notice.

Vehicles must be maintained, kept safe to drive (roadworthy) and operate within the terms of operators’ licence conditions.

Check what you need to do to exempt your vehicle.

MOTs for cars, motorcycles and light vans

The Department for Transport continues to keep MOT testing under review and will provide an update in due course.

More information

To delay the spread of coronavirus, the government has instructed some businesses and venues including all pubs, bars and restaurants to close from tonight.

This follows expert advice that more needs to be done in order to tackle the spread of infection – following  the call  to action to isolate or socially distance.

The closures will help limit the spread of coronavirus by helping to stop non-essential contact and unnecessary travel, in line with the public guidance announced earlier this week.

The measures will be reviewed on a monthly basis, and are being implemented across the whole of the UK in agreement with the devolved administrations. If needed, the government will enforce these measures by law.

This will not affect supermarkets or retailers that supply fuel, medicines and other vital goods, which will continue to be open as normal for the public.  

The following businesses and venues have been asked to close: 

• Food and drink venues for consumption on-site, such as restaurants and cafes.
• Drinking establishments, including pubs, bars, nightclubs.
• Entertainment venues, including cinemas, theatres, concert halls, and bingo halls.
• Museums and galleries.
• Spas and massage parlours.
• Casinos and betting shops.
• All indoor leisure and sports facilities, including gyms.

This measure will not impact the relaxation of planning rules announced earlier this week which will allow pubs and restaurants to operate as hot food takeaways during the coronavirus outbreak, which will help to support people who are staying at home through this period.

The government has also urged the public to take further steps to protect themselves and the wider population from the coronavirus, including:  

• Everyone to stay at home unless they need to get essential supplies such as food and medicines. 
• All those able to work from home to do so, unless their work is essential.  
• Only traveling if absolutely necessary – while public transport won’t stop, this should only be used for essential travel  – for example by key workers to travel to and from work.  

The closures announced today will not impact the running of public transport, and government continues to work closely with transport operators to ensure that people who need to get to work can continue to do so.

Yesterday, the government and rail industry agreed a plan that will see a gradual reduction in train services across the country to reflect lower passenger demand as people change their travel patterns to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, while keeping vital rail services running.

The decision to introduce further measures has been taken based on the latest advice from the world-leading health and scientific experts advising the government.

When infection rates come down, the government will remove measures as soon as it is safe to do so, guided by scientific advice. 

The government is working urgently to further improve testing and monitoring, which will also help in relaxing the measures as soon as possible. 

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: 

We will do whatever it takes to protect people across this country as we tackle the coronavirus outbreak. 

While people have responded well to calls for social distancing and self-isolation, we must go further if we are to be able to stop the spread of the virus and protect the most vulnerable people in our society, and our NHS. 

That is why we are now telling entertainment and hospitality premises to close temporarily, and people to only travel if absolutely essential, to help protect each other from the further spread of the virus.

We stand behind businesses and their employees and are offering an unprecedented range of support as we tackle this huge challenge together.

New guidance has been published to provide household isolation advice for children and young people who live in residential educational settings, and the staff that support them.

As part of the Government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, this latest advice is targeted at those living in a range of different homes including residential special schools, residential children’s homes, state and independent boarding schools, further education colleges and university halls of residence.

The publication provides more information on managing isolation should they or a member of staff begin to show symptoms of coronavirus.

The new advice confirms that children’s homes, special schools and colleges, other residential Further Education provision and mainstream boarding schools should all be considered as households under the government’s household isolation policy.

There is also more practical advice for how to manage issues that have arisen from coronavirus for those who care for children and young people with more serious illnesses or special needs in special schools and colleges.

Children’s Minister Vicky Ford said:

There are many children and young people that live in different kinds of households whether that be children’s homes, boarding schools or university halls of residence. We need to make sure that everyone knows how to safely isolate as a household in these challenging times to ensure we are protecting as many people as possible .

The Department has today issued guidance to confirm which residential settings they consider a household and how children, young people and staff and carers can manage safe isolation if they live in an atypical home.

The new guidance is to support staff and children and young people cared for in:

• children’s homes
• residential special schools and colleges
• other FE providers with residential accommodation
• mainstream boarding schools
• university or college halls of residence.

How Natural England is operating now that national coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions have been lifted

Natural England continues to operate largely as normal, providing a full range of services and advice.

In our activities, both outdoors and indoors, we will be adhering to the government’s updated guidance, ensuring that, in progressing our full programme of work, we assess all relevant risks (including COVID-19-related risks) and that we take all appropriate measures to address these risks. Our staff will however not attend our offices, face to face meetings or carry out site visits if they test positive or have Covid-like symptoms to minimise the chance of them passing infection on to others.

We will continue to check in with our partners and customers on their needs and on their comfort in engaging with us in normal business – whether field visits or meetings. As we have been through the pandemic, we will continue to happily adjust our ways of working to meet specific needs, for example through virtual/remote methods of communication where that is preferable.

The COVID-19 crisis has continued to show us that a thriving and accessible natural environment is vital to the nation. We continue therefore, to progress the government’s key policy ambitions for the environment, such as the 25 Year Environment Plan, the commitment to move towards net zero and the role of nature in mental and physical health/well-being, as well as ensuring that environmental law is maintained through our regulatory activities.

All Natural England-managed National Nature Reserves (NNRs) welcome visitors to connect with nature and enjoy our awe-inspiring wildlife, habitats and landscapes, but do check with your local site before you visit in case of any local car park closures or other restrictions. You can find more details on the NNR pages.

We have employed additional seasonal wardens in some reserves to ensure they are safe and welcoming places to visit. When visiting our reserves or other outdoor spaces please follow the Countryside Code to enable all to enjoy, value and respect the natural environment.

Our levels of COVID-19-related absence are currently low and reducing – should this change in such a way as to impact key services for customers, we will of course advise on any short-term implications.

Our offices are now all open, with some adjustments in place to ensure safe working. Natural England will continue to operate its flexible working policy – with our staff operating from a range of locations, in the field, at partner locations, at home and in our 25 offices across England. If you need to contact an individual member of staff, please use electronic communications which can reach them whatever their whereabouts.

At this time, we would like to thank all our partners and customers for their continued support over the past year and more. Together, we have delivered a lot of excellent work to benefit the natural environment. Over the coming months, I am pleased to say that we expect to bring forward a set of new and exciting projects which will further assist in reversing the decline of nature and in helping people to enjoy the countryside with all it has to offer.

Moving forward

We remain committed to our mission to build partnerships for nature’s recovery, which the nation will need more than ever. We continue to work in partnership, even if in different ways, safely and enthusiastically.

Marian Spain,
Chief Executive