'This petition calls on the the Prime Minister and the Government (through the responsible Minister, Stephen Hammond) to revisit the proposed merger of Venicle Licensing Services, as conducted both by DVLA in GB & DVA in Northern Ireland, under a single centralised administration based in Swansea.

It is evident that there will be a significant impact both  economically and socially but also and potentially more seriously, on the 'hard won advances' in the on-going fight against crime in Northern Ireland. Further, it is not sufficiently clear that proper recognition has been given to the very real overall 'value for money' that is offered by delivering Northern Ireland based Vehicle Licensing Services. Delivering these services from an administration based in Wales opens up the  very real likelihood that the Northern Ireland motorist will be subject to, as a result of the proposed merger/relocation of services to Swansea in Wales, a much reduced level of service to a majority of transaction types available to the public and other stakeholder organisations in NI and the rest of the UK.

It is not evident in anyway that there is a majority desire from the Northern Ireland public for the 'preferred option of 'on-line' services delivered electronically with other methods discouraged through very real and demonstarbly dangerous 'perception management' as employed by the department in seeking to persuade the NI motorist of the merit of such a merger of services as currently being persued in GB through the systematic closure of the Local Vehicle Licensing Office network on mainland UK.

I ask you to futher consider what the likely outfall of this proposal will be for the Causeway Coast area, for the Local economy and for the employment opportunities locally. It is very likely that upwards of 300 jobs directly and in excess of an additional 200 indirect jobs will be lost to the community locally and throughout NI. This arbitrary decision, if persued has the potential to removes in excess of £20 million from the local economy - that will create nothing short of economic carage. 

The case for this merger remains to be made by the Minister either effectively or with honestly, without 'smoke and mirrors and without prejudice to the core requirment of giving full 'the best possible' service to the public. The consultation process just recently launched, is riddled with misrepresentation, with myths and with complete disregard for the continued livelihood of very many people, indeed it is abundantly clear that the security of workers in Swansea, Wales, is being secured at the cost of jobs for people in Northern Irealnd. Can NI afford to loose all these jobs - NO NO NO!

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