Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's response to its consultation on proposed changes to the laws governing powered mobility scooters, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing compulsory third-party insurance cover; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Users of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are not required to take out compulsory third-party insurance cover. However, the Government recommends that users take out a third-party insurance policy.
A compulsory insurance regime has the potential to penalize older or disabled people unfairly. There is currently no reliable evidence to show that the use of mobility vehicles creates a major public safety issue.
Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average processing time is for claims for the return of driving licences withdrawn on medical grounds; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) deals with more than 600,000 medical driver licensing applications annually. The length of time taken to deal with an application depends on the medical condition and whether further information is required from medical professionals.
Between April 2016 and the end of August 2016, the average time taken for a licensing decision to be made was 38 working days. The average time for the period April 2015 to March 2016 was 53 working days.