MEP slams tardiness over UK roll-out of diabetes legislation
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chris.tindatlfarbi.co.uk AN MEP HAS waded into the row over new legislation that gives diabetics a chance to apply for their HGV driving licence, saying it will be "ridiculous" if the government fails to implement it in time.
Last August the European Commission gave all member states a year to individually assess diabetics for their fitness to drive HGVs by bringing "into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary".
Since then the DVLA has admitted it cannot guarantee that it can meet the 26 August deadline because it must first conduct a public consultation. I lowever, MEP George Lyon says there is no reason why the legislation cannot be introduced within a fraction of that time.
Lyon has written to the Department for Transport asking what measures it has taken to ensure that the law is changed.
lie says: "It does seem ridiculous that it's a year since its been passed and there has been very little progress. As a former business manager in the Scottish Parliament. I know secondary legislation can be introduced in a matter of weeks. It's not rocket science."
He adds: "We will put some pressure on the government to make sure it's done very quickly" In a recent letter from the DVLA to diabetic driver Archie Meechan. the agency states it is "unable to confirm at this time when the public consultation will be published".
Meechan says: "They must know when it's going to happen, they must have a timeline for it.
"I have been looking for new vehicles, but will have to put that on hold. I want to change over to a large one, but maybe I am wasting my time at _