§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress to date of the Motability scheme.
§ Mr. PrenticeMotability, an independent and voluntary organisation, was, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, established in 1978 with the support of all parties, and it has made considerable progress in its aim of providing cars on advantageous terms to mobility allowance beneficiaries. Motability has introduced both a leasing and hire purchase scheme and though it was necessary to phase the invitation of claims, I understand that the invitation programme is now about complete. A total of nearly 6,500 cars is already on the road.
Motability has successfully established a charitable fund from which it is able to assist clients with certain costs of entering the car schemes. It has also set up a technical development group to examine the field, at home and abroad, of vehicle adaptations available for disabled people.