HC Deb 13 January 2000 vol 342 cc210-1W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what published standards are set for the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency on the time taken to process driving licence applications that include reference to a medical condition; and what standards in respect of such applications the Agency has achieved in the last three quarters of 1999. [104056]

Mr. Hill

The service standards for applications involving a medical investigation are published in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's Service Guide. This states that the Agency's Medical Unit aims to complete its investigations:

  1. (a) within five weeks of receiving an application for a car or motorcycle licence;
  2. (b) within seven weeks of receiving an application for a large goods/passenger carrying vehicle licence.
When medical investigations take longer than this, applicants are advised on an individual basis.

Excluding December, where final figures have yet to be available, in the last three-quarters of 1999 the Agency achieved an average performance of 44 per cent. of car and motorcycle applications and 66 per cent. of large goods and passenger carrying vehicles being processed within the published standard.

Action is being taken to bring this service up to standard and the position is steadily improving.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average time between applying for and receiving(a) a driving licence and (b) a driving licence that includes reference to a medical condition. [104055]

Mr. Hill

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency undertakes to issue driving licences and return original documents to customers within three weeks (15 working days) of the date of receipt of their applications. This three-week standard has been met or bettered consistently throughout the year.

In cases where a driver declares a medical condition— amounting to some 1,100 applications a day—because of the increased complexities of the service the standard is five weeks for a car licence and seven weeks for a bus or lorry licence. Some current cases in these categories are taking longer. Action is being taken to bring this service up to standard and the position is steadily improving.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what published standards are set for the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency on the time taken to process driving licence applications; and what standards in processing applications the Agency has achieved in the last three quarters of 1999. [104054]

Mr. Hill

Where there are no medical considerations, DVLA undertakes to issue driving licences (and return original identity documents) to customers within three weeks (15 working days) of the date of receipt of their applications. This standard is set out in the Agency's Customer Service Guide. This three-week standard has been met or bettered consistently throughout the last three-quarters of 1999.