§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Transport if, in the light of the need not to discriminate against the disabled, he will reconsider his decision to deny a provisional heavy goods vehicle licence to a one-eyed constituent.
§ Mr. FowlerDecisions to grant or withhold HGV driver licences are taken by independent licensing authorities and I am afraid I have no power to intervene in their decisions. The statute does however provide a right of appeal against their decisions to the magistrates' courts.
It is necessary, in considering the issue of driving licences, to take account of medical conditions which might affect road safety and unfortunately this may in some cases entail refusal of licences to the disabled. However, I am looking further into the general question of the treatment of drivers with only one eye and will write to the hon. Member.