Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the insurance industry on products that might be offered to drivers of mobility scooters and how such products could be used to promote safety.

The Vnuk judgement concerned a case before the European Court of Justice about a man (Mr Vnuk) who was injured when he was knocked off a ladder by a trailer that was attached to a tractor in a barn in Slovenia. The effect of the judgment is that any vehicle that falls within the Motor Insurance Directives’ definition of a vehicle should have a compulsory motor insurance policy. The definition of vehicle in the Directives is very wide.

We are working closely with insurers, and others to identify how the ruling in the Vnuk case should be applied to a range of vehicles, including mobility scooters. We will shortly be meeting with relevant stakeholders to discuss the particular issues that apply to those using mobility scooters. We will, of course, consult before making any changes and we are determined to get a sensible outcome.