THE Government is to close the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's 39 regional offices in a move affecting more than 1200 staff, including dozens in Scotland.

Roads Minister Mike Penning said the centralisation of the agency's services would save £26 million a year.

It is hoped some of the staff affected will be able to relocate to the head office in Swansea, and no offices will close until late next year.

Those affected include five offices in Scotland, which will impact on 121 jobs. They are in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen, and will close between the end of October and the end of December next year.

But MPs in areas where jobs could be lost reacted angrily, saying the move was "a false economy" and would do nothing to combat motoring tax evasion.