Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the time taken to issue new licences to diabetics who are required annually to renew their class C1 driving licences and undertake a medical examination; and whether they have any plans to expedite the process for such drivers to renew their licences.

No formal assessment has been made on the impact of the time taken to issue a category C1 (small lorries) licence to drivers with diabetes.

However, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been working with key stakeholders and has recently reviewed the application process for all vocational drivers with insulin treated diabetes. As a result, a pilot exercise is currently being carried out where certain aspects of the application process have been streamlined.

Further opportunities to speed up the application process will be explored following the conclusion of the pilot exercise.