Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to eliminate backlogs in processing medical licence renewals for drivers.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical driving licence applications. Processing times can vary depending on the medical condition involved and whether further information is needed from doctors or other healthcare professionals.

To improve services, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and digital medical services portal. The online service covers around 1,600 medical conditions and allows most customers to apply online through their DVLA driver and vehicles account.

Further enhancements will be introduced for provisional licence applicants, customers aged 70 and over renewing their licence, and those whose licence was previously surrendered or revoked. The DVLA has also recruited additional staff to process applications and answer calls. These measures are expected to improve turnaround times for customers.

Customers are encouraged to use the online service wherever possible to help speed up processing.