§ Mr. Wareingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received requesting that the new car tax relief for the handicapped be extended beyond those in receipt of mobility allowance; and if he will now provide this relief to all using vehicles supplied through the mobility scheme.
§ Mr. Hayhoe[pursuant to his reply, 4 July 1984, c.152]: I have received numerous representations concerning both the car tax and VAT reliefs available for the handicapped.
Car tax relief is allowed on vehicles designed or substantially and permanently adapted for the carriage of a disabled person on a stretcher or in a wheelchair, and receipt of mobility allowance is not a condition of relief. It is, however, a condition of the new relief from VAT which I announced on 5 June, on leasing charges for cars leased through Motability.
I regret that I would not be prepared to extend a general relief from car tax or VAT to persons in receipt of mobility allowance or vehicles purchased through Motability. 252W These vehicles are often little different from those driven by the able-bodied, and an extended relief could therefore be difficult to control and lead to a real risk of abuse.