Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the potential merits of increasing payments offered to GP surgeries for medical information to help ensure that (a) delays are not created when medical evidence is required for the licensing of heavy goods vehicle drivers and (b) costs that have increased as a result of the covid-19 outbreak are met.

Drivers of heavy goods vehicle are required to meet the costs of providing the medical report where it is required when applying for or renewing a driving licence.

The amount charged for completing the medical report is a matter for the individual doctor. The British Medical Association (BMA) advises doctors that fees should be reasonable, transparent and justifiable. The BMA also recommends that the fee should be agreed before the examination takes place.

Where a driver has a medical condition, further evidence may be required to aid the DVLA’s investigation into whether the driver meets the appropriate health standards for driving larger vehicles. The DVLA pays for the provision of this information from a doctor. Discussions are ongoing between DVLA and BMA on the fees paid for this service.

A public consultation was launched on 8 November seeking views on a proposal to change the law to allow a wider pool of medical professionals to provide information. This could potentially remove a burden that currently rests with doctors and will allow GP surgeries and hospital teams greater flexibility to provide information from a wider range of medically qualified staff.