Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) accessibility implications for disabled drivers of the process of applying for a reduced rate of vehicle tax.

Her Majesty’s Treasury carried out an equalities assessment on DLA reform and Personal Independence Payments. In addition, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) completed an Equality Analysis report ahead of the introduction of the standard rate of Personal Independence Payments. The analysis recognised the benefits of an online system but accepted that such a system would be dependent on an electronic data interchange between the DVLA and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DVLA and DWP are working towards providing such a service.