HC Deb 18 May 1998 vol 312 cc224-5W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the British Government do not allow in special circumstances the exemption of insulin-dependent drivers from the EU Driving Licence Directive as provided for under the Directive. [41372]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 14 May 1998]: The Directive provides for licences to be issued to or renewed for those whose diabetes is treated by insulin for driving passenger-carrying and goods vehicles (minibuses, medium-sized lorries, buses, coaches and large goods vehicles) "only in very exceptional cases", and subject to further conditions. The Secretary of State's Honorary Advisory Panel on Diabetes and Driving has hitherto advised that, in their opinion, there are no exceptional cases. That is because treatment by insulin can lead to hypoglycaemic attacks which may occur suddenly and unpredictably, and which can lead to loss of consciousness without warning. A number of collapses at the wheel have been found to be associated with insulin treatment. UK legislation has therefore reflected the Panel's advice. However, in the light of evidence from the British Diabetic Association and other which claims that modern treatment and control methods minimise the risks, the Advisory Panel have, at the request of Ministers, been re-examining the issues in respect of the driving of minibuses and medium-sized lorries. The outcome of that re-examination will be made public shortly.