Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of Network Rail's assistance service for passengers at London Euston; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with a disabled people's protection policy (DPPP). This must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the independent regulator of the railways, which took over responsibility for approving and monitoring DPPPs from the Department in October 2013.
A DPPP sets out the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use. Network Rail has a DPPP setting out the assistance it will provide at London Euston and at the other 17 stations it manages.
If there is evidence that Network Rail is not achieving good outcomes for passengers this should be referred to Network Rail so they can put it right, or to ORR if it is not resolved. ORR can take a number of steps where it finds evidence that there is a problem, including, ultimately, following its enforcement policy where other means have failed.
I have contacted Network Rail on this point who have informed me that they offer a free mobility assistance service to all passengers that feel they need an extra hand during their travel to and from Euston station. This includes help boarding and alighting trains, assistance with onward journeys on other forms of transport, access to the station toilets and access to the first class lounge. This service does not include assistance to and from the shops on the concourse. Mobility assistance vehicles are available, seating a maximum of three people.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on its medical standards for people with type-2 diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Secretary of State appointed the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus to provide expert advice on the medical standards required for safe driving in relation to diabetes. The Panel meets twice a year and provides advice to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The Panel last met in October 2014.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that drivers with type-2 diabetes do not lose their licence as a result of hypoglycaemia.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department for Transport is responsible for maintaining road safety for all road users. Those who are not medically fit to drive should not be issued with a driving licence.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) provides information to drivers with diabetes, including the symptoms of hypoglycaemia. The DVLA has also worked with organisations representing people with diabetes to provide clear information about the standards required for driving.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the medical rules on driving with diabetes treated with sulphonylureas and glinides.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Secretary of State appointed the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus to provide expert advice on the medical standards required for safe driving. The Panel meets twice a year and provides advice to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Driving with diabetes treated with sulphonylureas and glinides was last discussed at the meeting held in October 2014. As a result the ‘At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive’ was updated to emphasise the need for appropriate glucose testing.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many drivers have lost their licence due to hypoglycaemic incidents in each of the last five years.
Answered by Claire Perry
The number of drivers who have had their driving licence revoked or their application for a driving licence refused due to a hypoglycaemic incident in each of the last five years is set out below:
Year | Number of licences refused/ revoked due to hypoglycaemic incident |
2009 | 210 |
2010 | 298 |
2011 | 703 |
2012 | 1,426 |
2013 | 1,066 |
The increase in the number of driving licences revoked or refused from 2011 results from the introduction of the changes to the minimum health standards for drivers with diabetes.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help prevent drivers with type 2 diabetes losing their licence as a result of hypoglycaemia.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department’s key responsibility is to maintain road safety for all road users. Those who are not medically fit to drive should not be issued with a driving licence.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) provide information to drivers with diabetes, including the symptoms of hypoglycaemia. The DVLA has also worked with organisations representing people with diabetes to provide clear information about the standards for driving.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on driving and hypoglycaemia.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Secretary of State has appointed the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus to provide expert advice on the medical standards in relation to driving with hypogycaemia.
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency about oral medication for type 2 diabetes and the risk of hypoglycaemia.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Secretary of State has appointed the Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus to provide expert advice on the medical standards required for safe driving. This includes advice on the impact of any medication taken for diabetes and the risks of hypoglycaemia.