Highland MSP tables motion on harmful changes to disabled travel scheme

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Andrew Baxter has tabled a parliamentary motion about the harmful impact of UK Government tax changes which have resulted in mileage caps for users of a disabled travel scheme, as he warned it will disproportionately affect those in the Highlands.

The company Motability Operations manages the UK Government’s Motability Scheme, which enables disabled people to lease cars, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), scooters and powered wheelchairs.

UK Government tax changes, however, have led to the company introducing a 10,000 per annum mileage cap on service users.

As a result, users across the Highlands may be unable to travel later in their lease period, making it much harder to access key services such as medical appointments, employment, social opportunities and day-to-day shopping.

Andrew Baxter’s motion calls for Motability Operations to introduce a specific rural exemption regime, which could consist of higher mileage allowance or reduced excess mileage charges.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP has also written to the Chief Executive of Motability Operations and urged him to consider an exemption regime for rural areas like the Highlands.

Andrew Baxter said:

“What concerns me most about these changes is the complete lack of recognition of rural reality.

“In many parts of the Highlands, a simple trip to the supermarket can involve a 50-mile round journey. For someone living in north Skye, attending a hospital appointment at Raigmore can mean a 260-mile round trip.

“Under a 10,000 mile annual cap, people will very quickly find themselves effectively running out of miles, simply from going about their essential day-to-day life.

“For many Motability users in rural Scotland, a vehicle is not a luxury- it is a lifeline. These changes risk amounting to a drivers’ tax that forces people to hang up their car keys and stay at home.

“We can’t continue to have policies dreamt up in London or Edinburgh that penalise rural communities.

“I urge my fellow MSPs to back my calls for an exemption scheme that properly protects those in the Highlands and Islands. I have also offered to meet with Motability Operations to explain the realities faced by disabled people living in constituencies like mine, and how these changes can be implemented much more fairly.”