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Our editor's email to the minister for disabled people10th July 2006 Dear Anne MacGuire I am writing to you in your capacity as Minister for disabled people, to express our great concern at Independent Living over the future of the wheelchair-accessible vehicle industry in Britain. As you must be aware, proposed new EU legislation, Framework Directive 70/156/EEC, will reduce the number of vehicles of a particular model that can be sold under Low Vehicle Type Approval from 500 a year to just 75. The effects of this will inevitably include a reduction in the number of conversion companies who can remain in business; a significant decrease in choice of accessible vehicles for wheelchair users; and a steep increase in the cost of such vehicles. It is the most disabled individuals who will suffer the most; those who depend on having an adapted vehicle in order to get out of their homes and travel to work, visit friends and family, pursue hobbies and interests. The cars available will be much more limited, and they will be obliged either to pay whatever the cost may be, or to suffer social isolation and dependence. It seems that your colleagues in the Department for Trade have allowed the Brussels legislators to draft this industry-threatening directive, despite lobbying from WAVCA, the trade body, to increase the annual sales per model from the current 500 to 1000... and without any consultations with the people most affected by this, the disabled users. At a time when the government is apparently committed to eliminating the disadvantages many disabled people still face, and enabling the views of disabled people to be heard by policy makers at the highest level of government, it is a cause of great concern to many involved with independent living, that a piece of legislation with such significant consequences should be allowed to pass without a murmur of opposition. I would ask you, as a matter of urgency, to do all within your power to challenge the progress of Framework Directive 70/156/EEC through the European Parliament and into UK law. Yours sincerely Frances Leckie |
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