Government questioned over impact of medical assessment delays on taxi and PHV licensing

The Government is facing renewed scrutiny over how delays in obtaining Group 2 medical assessments are affecting taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers, after ministers were pressed to explain what action is being taken to address growing backlogs.

Shadow Transport Minister Greg Smith tabled a series of written questions asking the Transport Secretary to assess the impact of medical‑related delays on licence renewals, to clarify what guidance is issued to licensing authorities, and to confirm whether discussions have taken place with the Health Secretary about improving access to GP appointments for drivers.

Group 2 medicals must be completed by a registered medical practitioner and recorded on the DVLA’s D4 form. Many licensing authorities require the same standard for taxi and PHV drivers, meaning delays in securing appointments can directly affect drivers’ ability to work.

Responding for the Government, Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said medical suitability for taxi and PHV licensing is a matter for local authorities, not the DVLA. She reiterated that the Department for Transport’s guidance advises councils to seek the same information required for DVLA Group 2 licences and to use the D4 medical examination report as a template.

However, the response did not address whether the Government has assessed the scale of delays, nor whether discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care have taken place—issues that have been repeatedly raised by the trade as drivers struggle to secure timely medical appointments.

Greenwood stressed that it remains the responsibility of licensing authorities to assess the medical information they receive and determine whether a licence should be issued. But with many councils reporting increased waiting times for GP appointments and rising administrative pressures, industry groups argue that clearer national direction is needed to prevent drivers being forced off the road through no fault of their own.