HC Deb 27 January 2000 vol 343 cc275-7W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2000,Official Report, column 210W, concerning the DVLA, what percentage of (a) car and motorcycle and (b) lorry and bus licence applications in which the applicant declared a medical condition were processed within the published standards in each month of 1999; and how many were outstanding with the DVLA for longer than the published standards in each month. [106716]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: The published standards contain a time allowance for the receipt of advice from third parties necessary to complete the Agency's consideration. Taking that into account, the percentage number is as follows.

Percentage
Months Car/motorcycle Lorry/bus
January 1999 55 72
February 57 76
March 54 75
April 50 72
May 54 64
June 46 61
July 43 59
August 37 63
September 40 64
October 40 74
November 39 71
December 41 64

The number of new cases opened each month which either exceeded at closure or are still currently exceeding the published service standards was:

Months Car/motorcycle Lorry/bus
January 1999 10,150 1,497
February 11,551 1,281
March 11,514 1,304
April 11,705 1,003
May 9,118 999
June 12,923 1,369
July 11,687 1,105
August 10,164 972
September 14,405 1,137
October 12,734 790
November 14,485 978
December 9,185 786

As at 31 December the number of current cases outstanding which has exceeded the published service standards totalled 35,490 (car/motorcycle) and 1,981 (lorry/bus).

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2000,Official Report, column 210W, concerning the DVLA, how many people were advised by the DVLA that the Medical Unit would take longer than the published standards of five to seven weeks to complete its investigations in each year since 1995. [106734]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: Figures were not produced for 1995–96 financial year and earlier. The figures for subsequent completed years are as follows:

Year Letters sent
1996–97 41,987
1997–98 52,285
1998–99 84,600
1999–20001 69,338
1 To date.

Customers will also be advised of progress by telephone but no summary records are kept of this means of notification.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2000,Official Report, column 210W, concerning the DVLA, how many people currently have an application with the DVLA for a (a) car and motorcycle and (b) lorry and bus licence in which the applicant declared a medical condition, which has been outstanding for longer than the published standards of five to seven weeks. [106717]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: The Agency deals with an annual total of some 320,000 applicants and notifications, involving medical investigations. At close of business on 20 January 2000, there were (a) 33,699 car and motorcycle and (b) 1,881 lorry and bus transactions which had been outstanding for longer than the published standards. This includes drivers who have notified a medical condition but are not currently applying for a licence.