DIRECTIVE 91/439 EEC AND INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETICS

Early day motion 372, tabled 30 October 1997 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 62 members.

That this House notes the discriminatory nature of Directive 91/439 EEC on driving licences that will make it illegal for insulin dependent diabetics to drive vehicles in groups C and D from January 1998 and that this driving ban is being implemented in the absence of any statistical evidence to support the notion that people with insulin dependent diabetes are more of a risk when driving than other people or more of a risk driving one particular vehicle than another; and further notes that the result will be to threaten the jobs and employment prospects of diabetics for no logical reason, increase the nation's welfare bill and add further to the stigmatisation of diabetics based on ignorance that will be encouraged by the European Union and the Government unless the Directive is withdrawn or not implemented.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 22, Conservative 6, UUP 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Labour/Co-operative 1, Scottish National Party 1, UKUP 1.