88,000 disabled people and carers in Scotland rely on their mobility allowance to access a leasing scheme for vehicles and powered wheelchairs. According to reports in the media, Labour’s UK Government has plans to make disastrous changes to VAT and insurance tax in the Mobility Vehicle Leasing Scheme for the folk that use it.

Currently people who qualifying for mobility allowance can use it to lease a new car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAVWheelchair Accessible Vehicle), scooter or powered wheelchair. 

“Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is considering making changes to the scheme over concerns taxpayers are subsidising premium cars rather than providing essential mobility.” – BBC NI News.

In her letter to Pat McFadden, Shirley-Anne Somerville said that she was “deeply concerned about the content of these proposals.”

No consultation has taken place with the Scottish Government which runs its own scheme : Accessible Vehicle and Equipment (AVE) Scheme.

Somerville continued:

“Motability is currently the only active provider under the AVE Scheme and has 87,843 customers in Scotland many of whom are disabled people or carers.

“These proposals will cause significant fear and uncertainty for disabled people who rely on the Scheme to remain mobile and affordably lease a vehicle with no credit checks.

“Should the changes to the VAT arrangements be implemented by the UK Government, Motability has indicated that the advance payments for vehicles could increase significantly for disabled people at a time when household budgets are already under significant pressure.

“Whilst the AVE Scheme is devolved, the tax arrangements are not and it is concerning that that the Scottish Government has not been consulted.”

Somerville went on to urge Labour to “abandon these proposals and ensure that disabled people can access the support that meets their needs.”

” If the UK Government does not, then disabled people can conclude, that the UK Government remains content to balance the books at their expense.

“The Scottish Government already uses its limited budget to invest around £1.4 billion mitigating the impact of 15 years of UK Government welfare policies, and this includes future mitigation of the two-child limit.

“However, it is not the responsibility — nor is it realistic — for the Scottish Government to mitigate all the UK Government’s most damaging policies.”

In a statement issued on 4 November, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

“The Prime Minister, the Secretary of Work and Pensions and this whole government are committed to reforming our welfare state”

Referring to the poor state of the UK economy, Reeves said that productivity must increase, including that: ‘Trains must run on time’; ‘Ripping up planning rules; and  ‘£14bn of efficiencies per year to be delivered by 2029.’

‘The UK’s national debt now stands at £2.9trillion’ stated Reeves, and so she will be ‘making savings and rooting out waste wherever I find it.’

Who qualifies for an accessible car and other equipment in Scotland? – Citizens Advice.

• get Adult Disability Payment because of a disability or illness that makes it hard to get around
• get Adult Disability Payment because you’re terminally ill
• have a child aged 3 or over who gets Child Disability Payment because of a disability or illness that makes it hard to get around
• have a terminally ill child who gets Child Disability Payment
• get Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance because of a disability or illness that makes it hard to get around
• get Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance because you’re terminally ill.

Fiona Grahame

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