Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Bill Wilson, an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, has drawn attention to the reclassification of mobility scooters by the EU, which means they are now subject to a 10 % import tax, the burden of which, he believes, will fall on the users, many of whom live in poverty.

In a motion on the issue lodged today, Dr Wilson pointed out that in 2007 49% of Scottish disabled people were workless, and the risk of poverty in a household is far higher if the household contains a disabled adult.  Twenty-four per cent of individuals in disabled households were in poverty compared to only 14 % of individuals in non-disabled households.

He commented:  “The decision follows a World Customs Organisation opinion in 2005 aimed at the USA, but which that country rejected as a tax on the disabled.  However, in July this year the EU’s Customs Committee reclassified mobility scooters, putting them in the same import tariff category as Formula 1 racing cars.  There might be some justification for such taxes on fuel-guzzling racing cars, but many disabled people are dependent on their mobility scooters and almost all of these are manufactured overseas.  Taxing them, therefore, is a tax on disabled people, who are already amongst the most disadvantaged people in Scotland.

“A 10 % tax amounts to an extra £250 on most models.  This is unaffordable for many disabled people.

“I support Elizabeth Finn Care and others in calling for this iniquitous tax to be dropped.  Alternatively there should be some UK-wide mechanism for redressing the hardship that this causes.”

Notes to Editors

1.  Full text of motion

Short Title: EU Tax on Mobility Scooters is Tax on Disability

S3M-05384 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament
notes that in 2007 49% of Scottish disabled people were workless, that the risk of poverty in a household was far higher if the household contains a disabled adult and that, according to the Department for Work and Pensions report, Family Resources Survey, United Kingdom, 2007-0/8, 24% of individuals in disabled households were in poverty compared with only 14% of individuals in non-disabled households; further notes that the reclassification of mobility scooters by the European Commission means that they are now subject to a 10% import tax and that this could in many cases be passed on to the consumer; therefore believes that this reclassification amounts to a tax on the disabled, and joins the charity, Elizabeth Finn Care, in calling on the UK Government to press the commission to reverse this decision or introduce measures in the UK that will ensure that the hardship of some of the most financially vulnerable people in society is not increased.

2.  Further information