HC Deb 07 July 1959 vol 608 c1163

(1) In paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section seven of the Vehicles (Excise) Act, 1949 (which exempts vehicles not exceeding five hundredweight in weight unladen which are adapted and used for invalids), for the words "five hundredweight" there shall be substituted the words "six hundredweight". (2) This section shall come into operation on the first day of January, nineteen hundred and sixty.—[Mr. Nugent.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Mr. Nugent

I beg to move. That the Clause be read a Second time.

This new Clause fulfils an undertaking which I gave in Committee that the Government would move, on Report, a new Clause raising the weight limit of invalid carriages from 5 cwt. to 6 cwt. unladen for Excise Duty exemption, This would give the benefit of remission of Excise Duty to drivers of invalid carriages constructed with modern improvements and comforts and thereby exceeding the previous tax-free limit of 5 cwt. These have been growing in number in recent years. The initiative for this change came from my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale), who moved a new Clause in Committee, and I should like now to extend my congratulations to him.

Mr. Tom Brown (Ince)

I want to express my appreciation to the hon. Gentleman for introducing the Clause. It gives some assistance to those paraplegic cases who are now asking not for a single-seat invalid carriage, but for one which will carry two persons and which exceeds the weight of 5 cwt. mentioned in the Act. The Amendment will go a long way towards meeting the desires of these unfortunate men who have to use invalid carriages.

Mr. Nugent

As a rule this will not make provision for carrying two.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.