§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cars receive road tax exemption through the Motability scheme; how much this exemption costs; what the financial value is of this exemption; how many of the exempted cars are registered to people aged 65 years and over; what plans he has to extend the exemptions to adapted cars brought by people disabled after their 65th birthday; and if he will estimate the cost of extending the exemptions. [132373]
§ John HealeyThis exemption cost the Exchequer an estimated £111 million in 2001–02.
At the end of September 2003 there were 371,000 agreements for Motability cars (either contract hire or hire purchase). 26 per cent. of these were in the 65 + age group.
The Chancellor keeps all taxation policy under review and any changes are announced in the context of his Budget statement after considering relevant economic, social and environmental factors.