§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many medical appeals have been made to the DVLA since April 1992 by LGV/LPV vocational drivers; how many notified appeals were proceeded with; how many were resolved medically by the DVLA; how many(a) LGV cases and (b) LPV cases went to magistrates courts for appeal; how many appeals in each of the two categories were refused on grounds of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, diabetes, epilepsy, cardiac problems, history of strokes, non-epileptic fits and other conditions; and how many appeals were allowed in each of the categories in respect of diabetes, corrected vision, monocular vision, deafness, history of suicidal tendencies, psychotic illness, hydrocephalus and other conditions.
§ Mr. KeyIn the period April 1992 to September 1993, DVLA received 257 notices of appeal from LGV/PCV drivers. Of these 242 were resolved at DVLA and did not proceed to court. Fifteen summonses were issued against the Department, of which, two were later withdrawn. The results of the remaining 13 appeals, by medical condition, are as follows:—
640WTwo LGV appeals allowed. These consisted of:
- Heart 1.
- Epilepsy 1.
Eight LGV appeals refused. These consisted of:
- Alcohol abuse 2.
- Epilepsy 2.
- Heart 1.
- Blackout 3.
One PCV appeal allowed.
- Cancer.
Two PCV appeals refused.
- Epilepsy 1.
- Head injury 1.
§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations he has given to establishing medical appeal tribunals analogous to those operated by the Department of Social Security for appeals against DVLA decisions on the issue of LGV/LPV licences.
§ Mr. KeyWe are currently looking at the use of independent medical referees rather than the more expensive medical tribunal system.