Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of delays between people being confirmed medically fit and getting their driving licenses back by the DVLA.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online services are the quickest way to apply for a driving licence and drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA has also introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with multiple sclerosis, some mental health conditions and glaucoma. This has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.
The DVLA is continuing to make improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions and is introducing a new strategic system to process cases. This will provide better services for customers and allow straightforward applications to be processed more quickly.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the average time taken to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued was 44 working days, a reduction from 56 working days in the previous financial year.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can sometimes take longer depending on the medical condition or conditions being investigated. The DVLA is also often reliant on receiving information from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision can be made on whether to issue a licence.
Most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to speed up the process of DVLA reviewing license renewal following medical improvement.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online services are the quickest way to apply for a driving licence and drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online. The DVLA has also introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with multiple sclerosis, some mental health conditions and glaucoma. This has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver.
The DVLA is continuing to make improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions and is introducing a new strategic system to process cases. This will provide better services for customers and allow straightforward applications to be processed more quickly.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the average time taken to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued was 44 working days, a reduction from 56 working days in the previous financial year.
Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can sometimes take longer depending on the medical condition or conditions being investigated. The DVLA is also often reliant on receiving information from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision can be made on whether to issue a licence.
Most applicants renewing an existing licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on creating a treatment pathway for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the NHS.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including treatment pathways and support for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. The Department asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce a quality standard in England for FASD to help providers and commissioners improve both diagnosis and support for people affected by FASD. This includes guidance on individualised management plans, which help to coordinate care across a range of healthcare professionals, as well as education and social services, to improve outcomes. The quality standard also covers support during pregnancy to improve awareness and prevent the disorder. The quality standard was published in March 2022, and is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs204
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of in-community support for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards in England to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including treatment pathways and support for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. The Department asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce a quality standard in England for FASD to help providers and commissioners improve both diagnosis and support for people affected by FASD. This includes guidance on individualised management plans, which help to coordinate care across a range of healthcare professionals, as well as education and social services, to improve outcomes. The quality standard also covers support during pregnancy to improve awareness and prevent the disorder. The quality standard was published in March 2022, and is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs204
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to modify regulations to facilitate the installation of (a) energy efficiency measures and (b) double glazing in listed buildings.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government will consider issues relating to installing energy efficiency measures and double glazing in listed building as part of ongoing reforms to the planning system.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for a practical driving test in Somerset in each of the last five years, by driving test centre
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by driving test centre (DTC) in Somerset.
Somerset |
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Taunton | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 10.9 | 16.7 | 16.8 | 16.5 | 21.9 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Yeovil | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 12.3 | 15.7 | 16.6 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 18.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Weston Super Mare | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.6 | 9.1 | 16.2 | 20.5 | 21.0 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 14.2 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by DTC in Wiltshire.
Wiltshire | |||||||||||
Chippenham | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.0 | 10.7 | 16.7 | 22.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Longest | 16.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Salisbury | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 10.1 | 12.9 | 10.5 | 16.9 | 21.7 | ||||||
Longest | 17.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Trowbridge | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 15.3 | 9.9 | 11.8 | 14.2 | 16.6 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 21.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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Swindon MPTC | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 11.2 | 13.7 | 18.8 | 23.5 | 24.0 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Please note that the maximum waiting time until the middle of 2021 was 18 weeks. The maximum waiting time since then has been 24 weeks.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for a practical driving test in Wiltshire, by driving test centre in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by driving test centre (DTC) in Somerset.
Somerset |
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Taunton | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 10.9 | 16.7 | 16.8 | 16.5 | 21.9 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Yeovil | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 12.3 | 15.7 | 16.6 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 18.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Weston Super Mare | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.6 | 9.1 | 16.2 | 20.5 | 21.0 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 14.2 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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The table below shows the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for a practical driving test in each of the last five years, by DTC in Wiltshire.
Wiltshire | |||||||||||
Chippenham | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 9.0 | 10.7 | 16.7 | 22.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Longest | 16.5 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Salisbury | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 10.1 | 12.9 | 10.5 | 16.9 | 21.7 | ||||||
Longest | 17.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Trowbridge | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||||||
Average | 15.3 | 9.9 | 11.8 | 14.2 | 16.6 | ||||||
Longest | 18.0 | 21.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
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Swindon MPTC | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
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Average | 11.2 | 13.7 | 18.8 | 23.5 | 24.0 |
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Longest | 18.0 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 |
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Please note that the maximum waiting time until the middle of 2021 was 18 weeks. The maximum waiting time since then has been 24 weeks.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to restart the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We call on the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza, now. The Foreign Secretary regularly presses his Israeli counterparts on these issues. We are calling on the Government of Israel to allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza, and let the UN and humanitarians save lives. On 13 May the UK, along with European partners, called an urgent session of the UN Security Council to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. I spoke with the Israeli Ambassador on 20 May to make clear that the UK stands firmly against Israel's resumption of military action in Gaza, its wholly inadequate plan for aid delivery and to demand that a full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza takes place immediately.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made an estimate of the number of domestic abuse offenders who would be included in the Early Release Scheme.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. On 10 September 2024, the Government therefore took the unavoidable step to move the release point for certain standard determinate sentences from 50% to 40% (‘SDS40’).
SDS40 exclusions include sentences for specified offences linked to domestic abuse irrespective of sentence length including stalking, coercive or controlling behaviour and non-fatal strangulation. By contrast, the last Conservative Government’s End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) scheme had none of these exclusions for domestic abuse connected offences.
We have published SDS40 release data as part of the quarterly Offender Management Statistics, in line with the Lord Chancellor’s commitment to transparency: Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data - GOV.UK.
On 22 May, the Lord Chancellor also set out the Government’s in-principle response to the Independent Sentencing Review’s findings and recommendations, which will replace SDS40 and help to ensure prisons never run out of space again and dangerous offenders can be kept off the streets.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the UK’s housing stock of bungalows is adequate to meet the needs of an ageing population.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market.
The updated National Planning Policy Framework asks local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in their areas, and reflect this in their Local Plan policies. This includes planning for a range of options to meet the differing needs of older people, including bungalows.
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report
We will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.