The government has insisted that motorists will benefit from a major shake-up of public sector vehicle services.

Transport minister Stephen Hammond revealed the Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle Operator Services Agency will merge into one organisation in 2014.

Anybody who has queries about driving tests or goods vehicle testing will have to go through the new body and Mr Hammond thinks this is a positive move.

"We need to make sure that we continue to keep pace with customers' needs and deliver services in a way which is both convenient and cost effective," he remarked.

By bringing the two groups together, the MP thinks there might be scope for customer fees to be lowered.

The government made the announcement after scrutinising the results of a consultation that was held between December 2012 and March 2013.

Earlier this week, Mr Hammond confirmed the government is committed to investing significant sums of money into the nation's road network, allaying fears the authorities could be about to slash transport budgets.