Copyright dailystar
Parliament has witnessed demands for a substantial cut to the Motability scheme , with suggestions to reduce it for individuals suffering from conditions like ADHD and tennis elbow. During a Commons debate on welfare spending initiated by the Conservatives, Helen Whately, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, raised several issues including limiting benefits for non-UK citizens and upholding the two-child cap. The Motability scheme allows Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) claimants with severe mobility issues to lease a new vehicle, provided they are awarded the higher mobility rate of the benefit. There's growing apprehension that Chancellor Rachel Reeves might target the Motability scheme in her November Budget, a move that has sparked criticism due to potential cost implications. It's been proposed that VAT could be applied to all new cars, potentially adding roughly £3,000 to the price of even the most affordable vehicles, according to Motability. In the UK, it's estimated that the scheme cost taxpayers £2.8 billion last year, with one in five new cars registered through the scheme. Data also revealed an 80 per cent increase in enhanced rate personal independence payment (PIP) mobility claims, largely driven by mental health-related claims. During the debate, the Tories proposed slashing Motability, potentially excluding everyone except those with 'serious disabilities' and aiming to 'put an end to taxpayer-funded cars for people who have conditions like ADHD and tennis elbow', reports the Liverpool Echo . Ms Whateley, who tabled the motion, said: "That this House regrets the failure of the Government to get people off welfare and into work; believes that reforming the welfare system is a moral mission; and therefore calls on the Government to take urgent action to fix Britain's welfare system by restricting welfare for non-UK citizens, stopping benefits for those with lower-level mental health conditions, increasing the number of face-to-face assessments, reforming the Motability Scheme so that only those with serious disabilities qualify for a vehicle, and retaining the two-child benefit cap, to get people into employment and build a stronger economy." Conservative MP Rebecca Smith said: "We must increase face-to-face assessments for disability benefits . Since the covid-19 restrictions, the number of face-to-face assessments has tanked, with 90% now happening over the phone. "This is unacceptable and has opened the door to so-called sickfluencers, who are coaching people online on the right words to say to get the maximum amount of benefit. Insisting on in-person appointments will mitigate this issue. "With the Chancellor now beginning to blame Covid for the economic challenges she faces, other Departments should be free to acknowledge the same and crack on with changing things back-in this case, to in-person assessments." She added: "We must reform the Motability scheme so that only those with serious disabilities qualify for a vehicle. Motability is a lifeline for those with serious mobility issues, yet under Labour, Motability costs have surged by almost 10%." In response, Andrew Western, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, dismissed the proposal, stating: "reforming the Motability Scheme so that only those with serious disabilities qualify for a vehicle'. Again, what is a "serious" disability? "It is impossible to know from the text of the motion, or indeed from any of the speeches made." For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
