§ Mr. Newtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the conditions in which exemption from vehicle excise duty is granted to disabled people other than drivers of invalid three-wheelers; if he will estimate how many people benefit from this concession; and what loss of revenue is involved.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th May 1977; Vol. 932, c. 514], gave the following information:
Exemption from vehicle excise duty is granted to severely disabled persons who are eligible for an invalid three wheeler but who own or drive their own vehicle and have opted to receive the private car allowance of £100 a year; to those who have been provided with a car instead of a tricycle, under the former NHS vehicle scheme or the war pensioner vehicle scheme; and to those disabled passengers who receive a constant attendance allowance and who although eligible for a tricycle are required to be driven. The number of beneficiaries at 31st December 1976 was 35,800, of whom 11,300 are war pensioners. The loss of revenue is estimated at about £1.8 million a year.
§ Mr. Newtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the 571W additional number of disabled persons who would benefit if current exemptions from vehicle excise duty were extended to all in receipt of mobility allowance and the loss of revenue which would be involved.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report 25th May 1977, Vol. 932, c. 514], gave the following information.
Since eligibility for mobility allowance is not linked to availability of a vehicle or the possession of a valid driving certificate, it is not possible to estimate the number of beneficiaries who would qualify for vehicle excise duty exemption or the loss of revenue involved.