Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, speaking during a Parliamentary debate, ruled out allowing holders of category B licences to drive minibuses under D1 entitlement.
The minister was replying on 27 March to the request from Martin Wrigley, Liberal Democrat MP for Newton Abbot, who said an exemption for community transport groups would allow them to recruit drivers more easily.
Those who passed their driving test before 1997 have an automatic entitlement to a D1 licence. However, for those who have passed since, adding on the right to drive a minibus with no more than 16 passenger seats can be expensive, argues Mr Wrigley and other campaigners.
Mr Lightwood says: “I am sympathetic to the honourable member’s concerns, but to date there is not enough evidence to prove that the repeal of the legislation would not have an adverse impact on road safety. Since 1997, holders of car driving licences have not received an automatic entitlement to drive minibuses; this is primarily to improve road safety.”
Mr Wrigley said community transport groups such as two he noted in his constituency were finding it hard to recruit drivers. He added that costs of £800-1800 were associated with training to take the test to add on D1 entitlement. “Will the Secretary of State work with me to add exceptions to D1 requirements to cover community transport and other volunteer community groups?” he asked.
The Community Transport Association has campaigned that D1 entitlements should be granted to category B holders “subject to an accessibility and safety training requirement”.
In 2022, the Department for Transport (DfT) issued a call for evidence on proposals linked to a change in the rules on category D1 entitlement.
The subsequent DfT report in 2023 noted support for extension of category B to D1 entitlement of 73% from the more than 2,000 respondents.
