Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the declaration of ongoing medical issues on the time take to renew drivers' licences for people in Yeovil constituency.

In the interests of road safety, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) must be satisfied that the required medical standards are met before a licence is issued. Some medical cases take longer because the DVLA often needs information from third parties, including doctors or other healthcare professionals, before it can make a licensing decision.

The DVLA has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications, increasing waiting times for some customers. To improve its services, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal so the majority of customers can now apply online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicle account.

These enhancements alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with these applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements in services and turnaround times for customers.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the time taken to renew driving licences specifically for the Yeovil constituency.