Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in reinstating driving licences following medical clearance.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as they vary widely in complexity and the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system, scheduled to be operational in March 2026, which is expected to deliver significant improvements to the services provided to drivers with medical conditions. When fully implemented, this will provide improved turnaround times, increased capacity, increased automation, higher levels of digital functionality and increased digital communication. To reduce call waiting times and to support customers, the DVLA is also increasing staffing levels in its contact centre.

Applicants renewing an existing licence may be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing the driver can meet specific criteria. More information on this can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1180997/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department plans to launch the consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Leicestershire.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As announced in my Written Ministerial Statement of 5 February HCWS1309, the consultation for the remaining areas in the local government reorganisation programme, including Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, has now launched.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects to publish details of the funding allocations and capital investment for neighbourhood health centres and community hospitals, including Fielding Palmer Hospital in Leicestershire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

At the Autumn Budget, we announced our commitment to deliver 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs) through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme. This will deliver NHCs through a mixture of upgrades to expand and improve sites over the next three years, and new build sites opening in the medium term.

The first 120 NHCs are due to be operational by 2030 and will be delivered through a mixture of public private partnerships and public capital. 50 of these will be delivered through upgrades and 70 will be new builds.

The 2025 Spending Review settlement provides £426 million over four years for improvements in the primary care estate. Up to half of this funding will support upgrades to existing buildings to deliver NHCs this Parliament. Further information on NHCs and funding will be published over the coming months

At a local level, National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards are responsible for delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services, including managing the local capital budget for their areas, and allocating funds according to local priorities, such as investment in healthcare facilities.

Found: November 2024 Members present1 Nick Smith, in the Chair Mr Alex Barros-Curtis Bob Blackman Alberto Costa

Found: Committee, told us that the current system is “in keeping with our tradition of lively democracy”.119 Alberto Costa

Found: Current membership Alberto Costa (Conservative; South Leicestershire) (Chair) Paula Barker (Labour; Liverpool