Written questions by Kearns.

What the average processing time is for DVLA medical licence renewals where the applicant's condition has been clinically stable for two or more consecutive years.

In 2025/26, the DVLA received 1,003,453 driving licence applications, renewals and notifications where a medical condition needed to be investigated before a licence could be issued. Of these, 15 per cent were made via the DVLA’s online service. Until the end of March 2026, only a limited number of single medical conditions could be notified via the online DVLA’s Fitness to Drive Service. These included diabetes, Parkinsons, epilepsy, stroke, visual impairments or heart conditions. Notifications or renewals of all other medical conditions required applications to be submitted by post. However, the DVLA’s new online medical services portal was launched on 31 March 2026 and most customers can now notify or renew online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. The information requested about the average processing time for licence renewals where the applicant’s condition has been clinically stable for two or more consecutive years is not available as the DVLA is not required to hold information about periods of clinical stability. In 2025/26, the average processing time for all driving licence applications where a medical condition needed to be investigated was 56.66 working days.

What proportion of DVLA medical licence applications are processed digitally rather than by post.

In 2025/26, the DVLA received 1,003,453 driving licence applications, renewals and notifications where a medical condition needed to be investigated before a licence could be issued. Of these, 15 per cent were made via the DVLA’s online service. Until the end of March 2026, only a limited number of single medical conditions could be notified via the online DVLA’s Fitness to Drive Service. These included diabetes, Parkinsons, epilepsy, stroke, visual impairments or heart conditions. Notifications or renewals of all other medical conditions required applications to be submitted by post. However, the DVLA’s new online medical services portal was launched on 31 March 2026 and most customers can now notify or renew online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account. Driving licence applications where a medical condition(s) must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer as the DVLA is often reliant on information from third parties, including medical professionals, before a licence can be issued. The information requested about the average processing time for licence renewals where the applicant’s condition has been clinically stable for two or more consecutive years is not available as the DVLA is not required to hold information about periods of clinical stability. In 2025/26, the average processing time for all driving licence applications where a medical condition needed to be investigated was 56.66 working days.

What steps she is taking to accelerate the issuing of medical driving licences.

The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in both the volume and complexity of driving licence applications from people with one or more medical conditions. Unfortunately, this has led to longer waiting times for some customers. In 2024/25 the DVLA made more than 830,000 medical licensing decisions with forecasts showing that more than 925,000 medical applications and notifications will be received in 2025/26. To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA is updating its online service and is launching a new casework system which will deliver significant improvements to drivers with medical conditions. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling GPs and hospital consultants to issue temporary blue badges to patients with severe mobility limitations who are experiencing long NHS waiting times for major surgery, with such badges to be reviewed at six-month intervals.

The aim of the Blue Badge scheme is to help people with substantial and enduring mobility problems caused by visible and non-visible (‘hidden’) disabilities to access goods and services, by allowing them to park close to their destination. Blue Badges may therefore be awarded to an individual with a disability that is expected to endure in some way for the three-year badge issue period. As set out in legislation, the scheme is administered locally by the respective local authority, who are responsible for determining and implementing the administrative, assessment, and enforcement procedures which they believe are in accordance with the governing legislation. The Government has no plans to change how the scheme is administered at a local level.

If her Department will take steps to help (a) address delays in Citroën’s airbag recall repairs and (b) ensure drivers receive appropriate (i) support and (ii) reimbursement.

The Secretary of State recently wrote to Stellantis to express serious concerns about the customer impact of the stop-drive recall currently affecting Citroën and DS Automobiles cars in the United Kingdom. That correspondence urged Stellantis to take immediate steps to:Improve the effectiveness of their customer support, and that they make effective their commitments for ensuring that all affected owners – especially those with urgent mobility needs – are provided with viable alternatives, whether through courtesy cars, financial compensation, or at-home repair servicesPrioritise vulnerable customers who rely on their vehicles for essential travel – such as key workers, carers, and individuals with disabilitiesEnhance transparency by clearly communicating the timelines for resolution, and the alternative transport or compensation provisions that are in place.

Whether her Department plans to fund accessibility improvements at train stations.

Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All programme has delivered step free upgrades at more than 260 station across Britain. The government is committed to continuing to improve the accessibility of the railway.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the China Investment Company’s ownership stake in Heathrow airport on national security.

The Government takes its responsibility for national security extremely seriously and balances this with its continued commitment to welcome inward investment in a way that provides investors with the certainty and transparency they need to do business in the UK. For any new investments into the UK that fall under an area of the economy deemed to be in a sensitive sector, which includes new investments into the transport sector, we will use the powers afforded by the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise transactions and intervene if necessary to protect national security. We work across government to conduct due diligence and other assessments and ensure that any potential national security risk to the UK is handled appropriately.

Whether she plans to re-open the Access for All fund.

This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All (AfA) programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Britain. £350m is currently allocated to the Access for All programme until 2028/29. MPs and other stakeholders will shortly be updated on our approach to AfA.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a new sign asking drivers to move to the right at short slip roads.

The Department has not made an assessment of introducing a sign asking drivers to move to the right at short slip roads. There are currently no plans to introduce this.

What plans she has to provide funding for the expansion of electric vehicle chargers in (a) Rutland and South Kesteven and (b) other rural areas.

Rutland County Council was allocated £569,000 and Lincolnshire County Council, which South Kesteven sits within, was allocated £6,380,592 combined capital and resource funding through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to expand public chargepoints. The £381m LEVI Fund will accelerate public chargepoints for drivers without off-street parking across England, including rural areas. LEVI funding allocations considered the level of rurality in an area. This meant local authorities in rural areas were allocated additional funding compared to urban ones.