Tax on mobility scooters are ‘disgraceful’ says disabled man

Councillor David Clayton, Reggie Lane and Leslie Taylor

Local disabled resident Reggie Lane has called the tax imposed on mobility scooters "disgraceful". Mr Lane said: "For many of us with disabilities, a mobility scooter is literally a lifeline, without it we are locked out further from the world around us. To tax the most disadvantaged in society in this way is simply disgraceful.”

The World Customs Organisation, which advises governments on import duties, recently issued a document recommending that scooters should be taxed, as they could be used by people without disabilities.

Although many countries, including the US, have rejected the advice, the EU decided to accept it, and has put the scooters in the same tax classification as Formula 1 cars.
Since the scooters were first invented 30 years ago they have been classed as equipment for the disabled, making them exempt from tax. However, the EU, which has the power to set import duties for all member states, intends to enforce a 10 per cent import tax on scooters.

Mr Lane raised the issue with Kingsway Councillor David Clayton who condemned the tax saying: “This decision by the EU is an absolute disgrace and unfortunately it will have an immediate impact on the number of disabled people who can afford to buy mobile scooters. Scooters provide many disabled people in Rochdale with a means of independence. To suggest that scooters are not just for disabled people is ridiculous. Charities, which are already stretched hard in meeting the needs of disabled people will be hit hard by this thoughtless decision.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: “The 10% charge is nothing more than a direct tax on the disabled. Quite why the EU feels the need to discriminate against disabled people and the charities that support them is beyond me. I will be writing to the Chancellor Alistair Darling and colleagues in the EU urging them to seek support for member states to get this terrible tax decision reversed.”