To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will reduce the vehicle licence fee for diabetics by an appropriate amount in recognition of their being precluded by the second EC directive on vehicle licensing from driving certain classes of heavier vehicles. [30849]

No. The Directive does not change the rights of insulin-dependent diabetics to drive the large majority of vehicles in the private and light goods category. We do not believe that a concessionary rate of Vehicle Excise Duty would be appropriate in these circumstances, especially since the keeper—who is responsible for paying VED—and the driver of a vehicle are not necessarily the same person.