Motability has issued a statement in response to today's parliamentary questions.
A Motability spokeswoman said:
Following recent media coverage and today’s question by the Rt Hon John Mann, MP, in Parliament, the Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has announced that the National Audit Office (NAO) will be asked to conduct a review of the Motability Scheme. The Chairs of the DWP and Treasury Select Committees have also confirmed that a joint Committee inquiry will take place.
Founded in 1977, Motability has always embraced public accountability and transparency, so we warmly welcome a NAO review and any wider scrutiny from Parliament – as we did when the Charity Commission undertook a full review of the Scheme last year. However, in the course of the short parliamentary debate earlier today, a significant number of incorrect statements were made about the Motability Scheme. We will be writing to the Secretary of State, and others who participated in the debate, refuting every single inaccuracy.
Our first priority is always our disabled customers, so to avoid any unnecessary distress, we make the following points:
- The £2.4 billion reserves are not held by the charity. They are held by Motability Operations, an independent company which is contracted to deliver the Motability Scheme on the ground. Motability Operations is issuing a separate statement on this point.
- To avoid any further confusion that may arise as a result of today’s comments, Motability has absolutely no role in the eligibility criteria or award of mobility allowance to disabled people. That is – and always has been – the DWP’s role.
- Motability categorically does not receive “a direct grant from Government” for the Scheme. The Motability Scheme does not rely on Government, or the taxpayer, for direct funding. It was set up so that disabled people could voluntarily choose to use their mobility allowance on the leasing of a vehicle to meet their needs.
The Motability Scheme today is run on the same set of guiding principles that were established 40 years ago: to provide the highest standard of customer service, the best possible value for money, and financial sustainability for the long term. The Scheme has provided a ‘road to freedom’ for millions of disabled people and their families, and will continue to do so.
For further details about this news release, please contact the Motability Press Office.