Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of postal applications for a driving licence, where further information on the applicant's medical condition is required from a GP or other health professional, have been completed within ten weeks for the period since 1 April 2021.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.
The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of postal applications for a vocational driving licence, where further information on the applicant's medical condition is required from a GP or other health professional, have been completed within ten working days for the period since 1 April 2021.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.
The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of postal applications for a driving licence, where further information on the applicant's medical condition is required from a GP or other health professional, have been completed within ten working days for the period since 1 April 2021.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.
The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of online applications for a driving licence, where further information on the applicant's medical condition is required from a GP or other health professional, have been completed within three working days for the period since 1 April 2021.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.
The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide the latest performance statistics for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency against each of the targets given in sections 1.1 to 1.4 of DVLA's Business Plan for 2021-22.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s performance against business plan targets is published at the end of the financial year to account for the full year’s performance. The figures to date reflect good performance across most measures and the DVLA is on track to meet or exceed all targets relating to online services, which account for the majority of its transactions. The targets for paper transactions and correspondence in 2021-22 were set in line with pre pandemic levels of customer service and the DVLA is unlikely to meet those this year. However, the business plan made clear that the targets had been set in the context of no further disruption to service through Covid or industrial action, which has not been the case.
The information requested on the proportion of postal and online applications that have been completed within the specified timescales is not readily available. Officials from the DVLA will write to the Honourable Member when the information is available.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken for DVLA to contact an applicant's GP or health professional where medical input is required to process an application or renewal for a driving licence.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here. There will be additional delays in processing applications where medical investigations are needed.
The number of applications awaiting processing fluctuates on a daily basis as licences are issued and new applications received.
In December the Department of Health and Social Care asked the DVLA to temporarily pause referrals to the NHS for driver licensing purposes to allow the NHS to rightly prioritise the vaccination booster rollout. Referrals for lorry and bus drivers were prioritised and continued during this time and all referrals have now restarted. The large majority of drivers renewing a licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being considered, providing they can meet the criteria outlined here
The DVLA recognises the impact on drivers who have to renew their licence more regularly and is working hard to improve the process. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.
The DVLA has also recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This renewal process 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 looking at adding more medical conditions to this new process.
These measures are having a positive impact and customers will see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the backlog of applications for driving licences for people with medical conditions.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here. There will be additional delays in processing applications where medical investigations are needed.
The number of applications awaiting processing fluctuates on a daily basis as licences are issued and new applications received.
In December the Department of Health and Social Care asked the DVLA to temporarily pause referrals to the NHS for driver licensing purposes to allow the NHS to rightly prioritise the vaccination booster rollout. Referrals for lorry and bus drivers were prioritised and continued during this time and all referrals have now restarted. The large majority of drivers renewing a licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being considered, providing they can meet the criteria outlined here
The DVLA recognises the impact on drivers who have to renew their licence more regularly and is working hard to improve the process. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.
The DVLA has also recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This renewal process 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 looking at adding more medical conditions to this new process.
These measures are having a positive impact and customers will see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the timeframes for (a) applications and (b) renewals of driving licences being processed by the DVLA for applicants with medical conditions.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here. There will be additional delays in processing applications where medical investigations are needed.
The number of applications awaiting processing fluctuates on a daily basis as licences are issued and new applications received.
In December the Department of Health and Social Care asked the DVLA to temporarily pause referrals to the NHS for driver licensing purposes to allow the NHS to rightly prioritise the vaccination booster rollout. Referrals for lorry and bus drivers were prioritised and continued during this time and all referrals have now restarted. The large majority of drivers renewing a licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being considered, providing they can meet the criteria outlined here
The DVLA recognises the impact on drivers who have to renew their licence more regularly and is working hard to improve the process. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.
The DVLA has also recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This renewal process 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 looking at adding more medical conditions to this new process.
These measures are having a positive impact and customers will see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many outstanding (a) driving licence renewals, (b) applications for provisional licences and (c) other driving licence applications are pending processing by the DVLA for those with medical conditions.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here. There will be additional delays in processing applications where medical investigations are needed.
The number of applications awaiting processing fluctuates on a daily basis as licences are issued and new applications received.
In December the Department of Health and Social Care asked the DVLA to temporarily pause referrals to the NHS for driver licensing purposes to allow the NHS to rightly prioritise the vaccination booster rollout. Referrals for lorry and bus drivers were prioritised and continued during this time and all referrals have now restarted. The large majority of drivers renewing a licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being considered, providing they can meet the criteria outlined here
The DVLA recognises the impact on drivers who have to renew their licence more regularly and is working hard to improve the process. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.
The DVLA has also recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This renewal process 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 looking at adding more medical conditions to this new process.
These measures are having a positive impact and customers will see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 21 October 2021 to Question 57141 on Driving Licences: Internet, what his planned timetable is for his Department being able to offer the facility of renewing driving licences online for all applicants without a digital passport signature following the recent system interface enhancements between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Her Majesty's Passport Office.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has successfully delivered a digital service for customers applying for a provisional licence whereby they can upload their own signature. The immediate focus is on delivering further improvements to this provisional driving licence service to allow even more customers to be able to use it. The enhanced functionality is then expected to be rolled out to other driver services, such as renewals, during 2022.