§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy on the European Commission's proposed directive on the introduction of measures aimed at promoting improvements in the travel conditions of workers with motor disabilities.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Government position is set out in the explanatory memoranda of 17 April and 3 June 1991, which relate to the original proposal—4315/91 COM(90) 588 FINAL—and of 16 October 1991 on the amended proposal—4113/92 COM(91) 539 FINAL. Copies of those documents have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people have had their vehicle excise duty exemption on disabled persons' vehicles cancelled due to improper use for each year since 1989;
(2) what was the total number and percentage of claims for VED exemption which have been refused an exemption certificate for each year since 1989;
(3) what was the total number of VED discs issued to disabled persons in (i) the 1976 scheme, (ii) Motability component and (iii) passengers getting disability living allowance or pre-attendance allowance for each year since 1989;
(4) if he will give the number of people successfully prosecuted for the improper use of VED exemptions 'on disabled persons' vehicles for each year since 1989.
§ Mr. Robert KeyNo record is maintained for the number of disabled people with an entitlement to exemption from VED which is cancelled because of improper use or the number of prosecutions carried out because of improper use of a vehicle exempted under the provision. In both instances, however, the number is likely to be very small. No statistics are available on the number of unsuccessful applications for certificates of exemption from VED.
The total number of vehicles licensed under the disabled exemption was 320,000 in 1989, 380,000 in 1990, 420,000 in 1991, 470,000 in 1992 and 560,000 in 1993. There is no breakdown of these by category.