§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will 451W seek information from his EU transport counterparts on restrictions on driving vehicles by people with insulin-treated diabetes. [135398]
§ Mr. HillThe Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has written to all EU counterparts. To date replies have been received from Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Germany. Information has also been obtained from Norway.
In the light of this information, the Secretary of State's honorary advisory medical panel on diabetes and driving has reconsidered its previous advice and recommended that applicants with good diabetic control and no significant complications may apply for C1 entitlement (vehicles of between 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes). The panel will meet again on 8 November to finalise the details, after which public consultation will begin with a view to having the legislative changes in place by spring 2001.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the ban on driving of Group II vehicles by insulin-using diabetics. [135496]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 31 October 2000]At their meeting on 4 October, the Secretary of State's honorary medical advisory panel on driving and diabetes reviewed the licensing arrangements for Group 2 vehicles (vehicles above 3.5 tonnes). They agreed that those with good diabetic control and no significant complications should be allowed to apply for a licence for category Cl vehicles (between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes). They will meet again on 8 November to finalise the details, after which public consultation will begin with a view to having the legislative changes in place by spring 2001.