Gavin Newlands MP welcomes UK Government U-turn

Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has welcomed a U-turn from the UK Government which will see a constituent keep their Motability vehicle.

Last month, Gavin Newlands MP, raised the case of one of his constituents, Mrs Margaret Gibson of Ralston, to the Prime Minister. He explained how the DWP were removing her Motability vehicle following her transfer to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and despite being on the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance for 20 years.

Through the introduction of PIP, thousands of people who rely on a specialist motoring allowance have had their cars taken away after reassessment, some of them after having the vehicles for several years.

In November last year, the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work announced that they were looking at ways to allow PIP claimants to keep their vehicle pending appeal.

Since this announcement, no further information has been provided and still thousands of people across the UK are losing their Motability vehicles after being transferred over from the old benefit DLA to PIP. Mr Newlands asked the Prime Minister for an update to this and was assured that she would write to Gavin with more information on this. Mr Newlands is still waiting for a reply to this letter.

Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:

“I am delighted that the DWP have finally seen sense and decided not to take away Margaret’s Motability vehicle. This, however, does not for one minute excuse the stress that they have caused Margaret.

“Margaret’s Motability vehicle is a lifeline for her and it was shameful that the DWP previously proposed to remove this from her.

“After raising this to the Prime Minister, I first received a letter from the Minister of State claiming that there was nothing they could do to help Margaret – only for Margaret to receive a phone call a few days later saying that she would be allowed to keep her Motability car! This highlights the shambolic way that this case has been handled from beginning to end.

“Although Margaret has received a positive result in the end, there are still tens of thousands of people who are having their Motability cars removed by this government. This forces thousands to become housebound. The UK Government should do the right thing and change tack on this shameful policy.

Margaret Gibson said:

“I cannot thank Gavin enough for the help that he’s offered to me. He raised my case directly to the Prime Minister and that was crucial in allowing me to keep my Motability vehicle. I cannot highlight enough how important my Motability vehicle is to me and I’m relieved to find out that it will not be removed.”