§ Mr. McLoughlinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to encourage disabled drivers of cars and three-wheelers loaned under Departmental vehicle schemes to switch to one of the cash allowances; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottI am anxious that disabled drivers who still have departmental vehicles should appreciate the advantages of choice and ownership they would enjoy if they switched to one of the cash mobility allowances and used it to obtain a car. I am grateful to the disabled drivers' organisations which have expressed willingness to give independent advice to those considering making this switch.
Drivers transferring to the mobility allowance or the war pensioners' mobility supplement are able to use it to obtain cars privately or through Motability. Drivers of invalid three-wheelers who wish to buy departmental cars will be able to do so if surplus cars are available. War pensioner drivers of Departmental cars have been able to buy them for a lump sum at preferential prices since November 1983, and I now intend to enxtend this arrangement to civilian drivers of departmental vehicles. To encourage the remaining drivers in both groups to switch to the appropriate allowance a scheme of extended payments is to be introduced. A purchaser of a departmental car will be able to buy it by foregoing all or part of the allowance until it is paid for.
The Department will meet certain costs in connection with the adaptation of cars for civilian drivers of Departmental vehicles who switch to the mobility allowance on or after 1 July 1987 and obtain a car through Motability. This parallels provisions which already apply to war pensioners.
Any drivers who switch to the mobility allowance and then find they are unable to pass a driving test will be able to revert to a three-wheeler. Repairs of remaining three wheelers will be arranged through the Disablement Service Authority, acting as the agent of DHSS.
No replacement cars will be supplied to civilian drivers after March 1989, thus bringing them into line with war pensioners, whose loan cars have not been replaced since 1983.