To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the cost of the provision or subsidy of cars for the disabled provided by her Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [28713](2) what are the criteria for the provision or subsidy of cars for the disabled provided by her Department; [28712](3) how many individuals in the United Kingdom benefited from the provision or subsidy of a car for the disabled in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [28714]
The Department makes no direct provision of cars for disabled people. However, recipients of the higher rate mobility component (HRM) of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and of War Pensions Mobility Supplement (WPMS), are eligible for the provision of a car, on contract lease or hire purchase terms, under the Motability scheme if the period of their benefit award covers at least the period of the prospective
| 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | |
| Motability: Administration grant (£ million) | 2.085 | 3.260 | 4.256 | 4.694 | 4.646 |
| MEF/DF grant (£ million) | 2.000 | 1.885 | 3.000 | 3.000 | 3.320 |
| Value of VED1 exemptions (£ million) | 68.456 | 86.703 | 101.186 | 118.080 | 125.243 |
| Motability: number2 of cars provided | 77,239 | 90,125 | 105,025 | 125,529 | 137,509 |
| Number of MEF/DF grants made | 937 | 700 | 393 | 490 | 484 |
| Number of VED1 exemptions granted | 547,649 | 642,250 | 722,759 | 814,342 | 863,7473 |
| 1 Calendar years from 1 January 1993. | |||||
| 2 Calendar years from 1 January 1993. Figures are for Great Britain and Northern Ireland which cannot be disaggregated. | |||||
| 3 January-September 1997 represents the latest figures available. | |||||
| 4 All figures are for Great Britain except for 2. | |||||