Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the DVLA continues to rely on postal correspondence for medical driving licence assessments; and whether there are plans to modernise communication methods to allow applicants to communicate with the DVLA electronically, including through email or secure digital platforms.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the average time the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) took to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated:
Financial Year | Working days |
2025/26 (to end of November) | 51 |
2024/25 | 44 |
2023/24 | 56 |
The table below shows the number of medical driving licence applications that were outstanding on 3 December for the periods requested:
| More than three months | More than six months | More than nine months |
Number of cases | 72,428 | 22,600 | 2,288 |
In 2024/25, the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online.
The DVLA is focusing on delivering significant improvements to digital services for applicants with medical conditions but medical investigations vary widely in their complexity.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system 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. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication.
Applicants 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
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average waiting time has been for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to process medical driving licence applications in each of the past three years; and what steps are being taken to reduce delays.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the average time the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) took to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated:
Financial Year | Working days |
2025/26 (to end of November) | 51 |
2024/25 | 44 |
2023/24 | 56 |
The table below shows the number of medical driving licence applications that were outstanding on 3 December for the periods requested:
| More than three months | More than six months | More than nine months |
Number of cases | 72,428 | 22,600 | 2,288 |
In 2024/25, the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online.
The DVLA is focusing on delivering significant improvements to digital services for applicants with medical conditions but medical investigations vary widely in their complexity.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system 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. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication.
Applicants 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
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many medical driving licence applications are currently outstanding for more than (a) 3 months, (b) 6 months and (c) 12 months.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The table below shows the average time the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) took to make a licensing decision in cases where a medical condition must be investigated:
Financial Year | Working days |
2025/26 (to end of November) | 51 |
2024/25 | 44 |
2023/24 | 56 |
The table below shows the number of medical driving licence applications that were outstanding on 3 December for the periods requested:
| More than three months | More than six months | More than nine months |
Number of cases | 72,428 | 22,600 | 2,288 |
In 2024/25, the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions. The DVLA aims to process all applications as quickly as possible. However, driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued.
The quickest way to transact with the DVLA is by using its extensive suite of online services. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairments, sleep conditions or heart conditions can renew their driving licence online.
The DVLA is focusing on delivering significant improvements to digital services for applicants with medical conditions but medical investigations vary widely in their complexity.
The DVLA is currently rolling out a new casework system 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. The DVLA is also planning to launch a new medical services platform which will enable more customers to transact online and will increase the use of email communication.
Applicants 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
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of changes in the level of gas imports from (a) Norway, (b) USA, (c) Qatar and (d) the rest of the world relative to UK domestically produced gas from 2025 to 2030 by (i) volume and (ii) proportion.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government works with the Energy System operators to closely monitor and forecast the UK’s supply and demand for natural gas. The National Energy System Operator’s 2025 publication of Future Energy Scenarios contains a breakdown of gas supply sources, including imports to the UK.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential impact of unionisation within the renewables industry on energy bills.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As set out in our Clean Energy Jobs Plan, trade unions working in partnership with government and industry will play a vital role in building the workforce to meet our clean energy ambitions.
Hundreds of thousands of people could directly benefit from good jobs with fair wages in the clean energy sector – and we are clear that greater trade union recognition is one of the main ways to improve job quality.
This is good for workers and good for business, as studies have shown that workplaces with strong trade union representation have greater job satisfaction, improved retention, and stronger productivity growth which will benefit the sector.
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Budget 2025, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the pay per mile charge for electric vehicles on the number of sales of new (a) battery electric cars and (b) plug-in hybrid cars in each of the next five years.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government intends to create a fair motoring tax system while supporting the automotive industry and ensuring EVs remain an attractive choice for consumers.
As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.
While it is fair for EV drivers to contribute for their car usage, the government is also committed to ensuring that driving an electric vehicle is an attractive choice for consumers. Therefore, the rate of eVED paid by electric vehicle drivers will be half the fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that it will still be cheaper to own and run an EV for the majority of EV drivers.
The Government is also providing generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), £200 million for chargepoint rollout, and increasing the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs. This support will be introduced before the tax takes effect to support continued momentum in EV take-up.
The Government has set out the expected impacts from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the pay per mile charge for electric vehicles on sales of new i) battery electric cars and ii) plug-in hybrid cars.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government intends to create a fair motoring tax system while supporting the automotive industry and ensuring EVs remain an attractive choice for consumers.
As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, a new mileage charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, recognising that EVs contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads but pay no equivalent to fuel duty.
While it is fair for EV drivers to contribute for their car usage, the government is also committed to ensuring that driving an electric vehicle is an attractive choice for consumers. Therefore, the rate of eVED paid by electric vehicle drivers will be half the fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that it will still be cheaper to own and run an EV for the majority of EV drivers.
The Government is also providing generous additional support to incentivise the use of electric vehicles, including £1.3 billion of additional funding for the Electric Car Grant (ECG), £200 million for chargepoint rollout, and increasing the Expensive Car Supplement (ECS) threshold to £50,000 for EVs. This support will be introduced before the tax takes effect to support continued momentum in EV take-up.
The Government has set out the expected impacts from eVED and other Budget measures in the Budget 2025 Policy Costings document at GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she last visited (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire; when she last met an oil and gas company in (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Aberdeenshire in relation to their oil and gas activities; and which businesses were met.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor engages with different stakeholders on a range of policy issues. Her last trip to Aberdeen was in August 2025 where she visited the St Fergus gas plant near Peterhead. Additionally, in March 2025, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury hosted a roundtable in Aberdeen with stakeholders from the oil and gas sector.
Details of Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published regularly online. The most recent publication can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/68d50fe09ce370a7e0a0fca0/HMT_ministerial_meeting_Apr_to_Jun_25.csv
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she last (a) visited (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Aberdeenshire and (b) met an oil and gas company in (A) Aberdeen and (B) Aberdeenshire in relation to oil and gas activities.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor engages with different stakeholders on a range of policy issues. Her last trip to Aberdeen was in August 2025 where she visited the St Fergus gas plant near Peterhead. Additionally, in March 2025, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury hosted a roundtable in Aberdeen with stakeholders from the oil and gas sector.
Details of Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published regularly online. The most recent publication can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/68d50fe09ce370a7e0a0fca0/HMT_ministerial_meeting_Apr_to_Jun_25.csv
Asked by: Harriet Cross (Conservative - Gordon and Buchan)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with oil and gas companies, industry representatives, supply chains and the energy sector on the impact of the Energy Profits Levy on the availability of investment and skilled workforce to deliver clean power projects.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor and her Ministerial team have regular discussions with the oil and gas sector on a range of policy matters, including the Energy Profits Levy (EPL).
The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) was introduced in 2022 by the previous government.
The government remains committed to managing the North Sea in a way that ensures a fair, orderly and prosperous transition, while recognising that domestic oil and gas will continue to play a role in the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. We recognise the vital economic contribution of the sector in Noth-East Scotland, supporting over 150,000 jobs nationwide and underpinning the UK’s energy security. That is why the North Sea Future Plan, published at Autumn Budget 2025, announced a new Jobs Brokerage Service offering end-to-end career transition support for oil and gas workers. Earlier in October the government also published the Clean Energy Jobs Plan which sets out cross-cutting actions to deliver the skilled workforce needed to make Britain a clean energy superpower, including delivering Clean Power 2030.
Additionally, Autumn Budget 2025 set a clear path for the EPL to end by 2030 at the latest, or earlier if the EPL’s price floor, the Energy Security Investment Mechanism, is triggered. We have also given the oil and gas sector long-term certainty by confirming details of the future fiscal and regulatory regime, giving investors the long-term certainty and predictability they need to keep investing.