Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many HGV licence renewal applications his Department has processed each month between November 2020 and October 2021.

Information on the number of HGV licence renewal applications received or awaiting processing each month between November 2020 and October 2021 is not held. This is because it is not possible to distinguish between HGV and other vocational licence applications until they have been processed.

The table below shows the number of HGV licence renewal applications processed each month between November 2020 and October 2021 where full or provisional HGV entitlement (Category C and/or CE) has been renewed. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has focused extra resource on vocational driving licence applications to support the driver shortage. This has been successful with routine applications for vocational driving licences, including for HGVs, now being processed within normal turnaround times of five working days. It may take longer to process cases where medical investigations are needed.

The DVLA has accuracy checking measures in place, including regular supervisory checks on vocational renewal applications. DVLA staff are issued with comprehensive operating instructions which are updated regularly and receive clear communications about any changes to processing requirements.