HC Deb 22 April 1999 vol 329 cc638-9W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list(a) what items of research have been commissioned from the People's Panel by Government (i) departments, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies, (b) their purposes and (c) their cost. [80690]

Mr. Kilfoyle

The following is the information:

(3) how many vehicles were bought under the Motability scheme in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [81398]

(4) what is the maximum amount of money available to a claimant under the Motability scheme to assist in the purchase of a vehicle. [81400]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the tables.

The number of manufacturers, including vehicle conversion specialists, who have supplied vehicles under the Motability Scheme in each of the last five calendar years
Year Number
1994 20
1995 20
1996 23
1997 25
1998 27

The total number of vehicles bought under the Mutability Scheme in each of the last five years
Year Number
1994 90,125
1995 105,025
1996 125,529
1997 137,509
1998 132,698

The maximum amount of money available to a claimant under the Motability scheme to assist in the purchase of a vehicle is the weekly amount of the benefits which allow access to the Scheme. These are £41.25 and £37.00 for War Pensioners Mobility Supplement and the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance respectively. Also, grants are available from Motability' s charitable funds along with the Mobility Equipment Fund and Drivers Fund. There vary in amount from small sums to pay for initial deposits and grants of over £30,000 depending on the type of driving solution recommended by Motability. In respect of grants, Motability does ask its customers to contribute as much as they reasonably can towards the cost of their vehicle.