HC Deb 12 June 1996 vol 279 cc173-4W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that vans and other commercial vehicles adapted to carry people with disabilities for their own personal use do not attract insurance premiums at rates applying to commercial vehicles. [32235]

Mr. Norris

The setting of insurance premiums is a commercial matter for the insurance industry. When the appropriate provisions come into force, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will prevent insurance companies from practising gratuitous discrimination by charging disabled people unjustifiable additional premiums. My Department is not aware of any cases of insurance companies charging disabled people business rates of insurance for converted commercial vehicles which are only used privately.