8/2/2019 News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #36

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Subject: NewsBulletinfromAidanBurleyMP#36

Date: Thursday,22March201213:54:51UnitedKingdomTime

From: AidanBurleyMP

To: news@aidanburleymp.org

In this edition:

Aidan Burley MPs DiaryWebsite of the Week:Longford Primary SchoolNational charity welcomesAidans call to further helpdisabled childrenBurley backs businessas he looks behindscenes at JCB

Lottery grants availableto local groups inCannock ChaseMP quizzed duringschool visitA radical, reformingBudgetAidan welcomes greatopportunity for 16 yearolds in Cannock ChaseAidan in Parliament:

Aidan questions EnergyMinister on new nuclearpower plantsBurley backs end toautomatic settlement forunskilled workersAidan welcomes newstalking lawsAidan in the media:MP urges change inpowered wheelchair lawAidan in the papers:Councils workers in wage

loss of 2m for big strikeAidan in Parliament:Aidan presents new Bill onpowered wheelchairsHow to contactAidan Burley MP

Issue 36 Thursday 22nd March 2012

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Visited Hednesford Valley High School, where he was givena tour of the school by Head Teacher Anita Rattan, afterwhich he conducted a question and answer session withsome of the pupils.

Presented a Ten Minute Rule Motion calling for a Bill toincrease the weight limit for class 3 powered wheelchairsand to remove the lower age limit of 14 years on use of class

3 wheelchairs. Questioned the Minister of State (Renewable Energy) for

Energy and Climate Change on new nuclear power plants.

Spent half a day at the JCB Cab Systems factory in Rugeleyto learn firsthand the challenges facing local employers andto listen to the views of local employees.

Visited Longford Primary School, where he met withGovernors who reported back on the schools recent goodOfsted report.

Been quoted in the Express & Starcalling for money fromsalaries forfeited by the striking workers across Staffordshire

during the 30th November 2011 strikes to be used to fundtemporary free parking in local town centres.

Been quoted on the BBC News website about his proposed Billon powered wheelchairs.

Attended the Address by HM The Queen to Parliament, whichwas delivered as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Sat on the Statutory Instrument committee to consider The draftUnfair Dismissal and Statement of Reasons for Dismissal(Variation of Qualifying Period) Order 2012; The draftEmployment Tribunals Act 1996 (Tribunal Composition)Order 2012. This voted to increase the qualifying period forunfair dismissal from one to two years.

Met with John Taylor Head of West Midlands Region ofBigLottery Fund to discuss the Big Local investment in

Brereton and other lottery projects. Attended Budget Briefing hosted by the Director of the

Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Questioned the Minister of State for Schools at the Departmentfor Education what recent representations he has received onthe mandatory installation of fire sprinklers in new schoolbuildings.

Website of the Week:

www.longfordprimary.co.uk

The website of Longford Primary School,where Aidan visited recently.

National charity welcomes Aidans

call to further help disabled children

Click on the image above to watch Aidans speech.

Leading UK children's disability charity Newlife Foundation haswelcomed Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley's Parliamentary supportfor its campaign to amend an outdated piece of "nonsensicallegislation" which affects disabled teenagers throughout the UK.Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday as he introduced a 10-minute Rule Motion, Aidan highlighted the plight of potentiallythousands of disabled children who are currently denied access to themost appropriate wheelchairs due to existing weight and agerestrictions.Newlife which is based in the MP's Cannock Chase constituency

has been at the forefront of a campaign for change.Speaking in the House, Aidan paid tribute to Newlife for its nurseservices, provision of more than 7million of essential disabilityequipment including wheelchairs and funding of groundbreakingmedical research. He highlighted how charities like Newlife arerestricted from providing the most advanced equipment by the 1988Road Traffic Act and the belief that statutory providers such asprimary care trusts use the law to avoid supplying the costlyequipment, despite properly assessed needs.He said: "Wheelchair providers - usually primary care trusts (PCTs) orlocal authorities - have found a loophole in current law to avoid havingto fund high-specification powered wheelchairs to both adults andchildren who need them."PCTs are currently not balancing their books on the backs of the

poor but balancing them on the backs of the most disabled children,a situation I'm sure the whole House would find abhorrent in a countrysuch as ours."

Aidan seeks to change the Road Traffic Act 1988 to increase theweight limit for the biggest, Class Three, wheelchairs from 150kg to200kg and remove the minimum age limit of 14.

Aidan commended the commitment of Newlife's Interim CampaignManager Sue Woodward, despite her being an opposition candidate

when he gained the Cannock Chase seat.There were no speakers against the proposal it and will have itssecond reading on Friday 27 April. Importantly Maria Miller, Minsterfor Disabled People, and Norman Baker, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport,were present to hear the proposal.

Aidan acknowledged such bills rarely get on the statute books but heremains hopeful that the widespread support received will promptministers to act accordingly.Newlife's co-founder and CEO Sheila Brown OBE said: "Aidan spoke

passionately, with intelligence and great common sense in this 10-Minute Rule Motion. In raising this issue he has strategically moved

forward the fight to ensure disabled children are given the bestchance of getting the right equipment. We are very grateful for hiscommitment and fortunate to have engaged his support in thisimportant issue."

Aidan's proposal comes hot on the heels of an amendment earlier thismonth which potentially opens up access to the most hi-tech ClassTwo wheelchairs to thousands of under-14s across the UK. Theamendment came as a direct response to Newlife's dedicatedcampaign for change to raise the weight limit of Class Twowheelchairs to 150gs to allow wider provision.The amendment will enable more disabled children to experience

greater independence, with wheelchairs that have a wider range offunctions including sit-to-stand, tilt-in-space and posture support. Theadditional weight allowance will mean statutory providers, Newlife andother charities will now be able to supply this equipment.You can read the full text of Aidans speech below or by clickinghere.

Burley backs business as he

looks behind scenes at JCB

Aidan at the JCB Cab Systems factory in Rugeleywith local workers (from left to right) John Smith,

Chris Oakley and Tim Dutton.

Aidan has reaffirmed his commitment to local business and themanufacturing sector across Staffordshire in a half day visit to theJCB Cab Systems factory in Rugeley.This is one of a number of recent fact finding visits by the CannockChase MP to manufacturing and engineering firms across CannockChase to learn firsthand the challenges facing local employers and tolisten to the views of local employees.

Aidan was met at the factory by Director and General Manager RobertOwen and Operations Manager David Carver before being given atour around all areas of the main building on-site, including the offices,old factory areas, new factory areas and assembly lines, and theresearch and development facility.The plant, located at the Riverside estate in Rugeley, employs over400 local people many of whom come from the Rugeley area andwalk or cycle to work. The plant makes hundreds of different cabs for

all different models of JCB, all of which are customised to order in oneof the two assembly lines. Each cab is made to an individualspecification, with the focus of creating the most ergonomic andcomfortable environment for the operator, at the best value to thecustomer.During his visit Aidan spoke with the management about some of thechallenges facing JCB and also discussed how the company hadresponded to and dealt with the tough economic conditions. Aidanthen spent a significant amount of time on the factory floor speakingwith local employees about their roles and working at such a well-known company. He also took questions from the staff about tuitionfees and even offered to support one of the employees who is

involved in raising money for diabetes.Commenting after his visit Aidan said: "It was a real honour to visitJCB Cab systems and I would like to thank Robert and his team fortaking time out to show me around."I had some very useful discussions with the management about whatmore government can do to support them, in particular the ways inwhich we can encourage and support more young people to takequalifications in relevant mechanical and engineering skills to tacklethe skills shortage in these important areas of the business."I was particularly pleased to get onto the factory floor to meet with

the many local workers. There was a definite sense during mydiscussions that this is a company people are proud to work for withseveral staff even telling me they have their children enrolled at thelocal JCB academy!"Robert Owen, Director and General Manager at JCB Cab Systemssaid: "Manufacturing is an important part of the local economy and

Aidan's visit to JCB Cab Systems was an opportunity to show himexactly what we do here in Rugeley. Over 400 people are employedon this site in skilled jobs manufacturing cabs for a wide variety ofJCB equipment. It's important for them to know that their local MP istaking a keen interest in what they do and backing manufacturingindustry."

Lottery grants available to

local groups in Cannock Chase

Aidan recently met with JohnTaylor, Head of the Big LotteryFund in the West Midlands.Following this meeting Aidan isurging all local groups andorganisations in Cannock Chase totake advantage of wide range of

Lottery grants provided by the BigLottery Fund (BIG).The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for delivering 46 per cent of allfunds raised for good causes (about 13 pence of every pound spenton a Lottery Ticket) by The National Lottery. Since June 2004, BIGhas awarded over 4.4bn to projects supporting health, education,environment and charitable purposes. Grants come in all range ofsixes but some of the most popular are grants over under 10,000 tocommunity groups.For example, did you know that Hagley Park Sports College received9,900 to run an after-school cycling club for local school children to

encourage them to increase their physical activity and improve theirwell-being? Or that BIG has also given 7,081 to Slitting Mill VictoryHall to improve their kitchen facilities, making sure it meets health andsafety standards and the many groups in the area can use the hall.However, both BIG and Aidan want to see more good qualityapplications from Cannock to ensure more grants are awardedlocally so if you know of a worthwhile cause why not apply today?BIGs Awards for All grants scheme is open to all voluntary andcommunity groups, schools, health organisations, parish and towncouncils and offers grants of between 300 and 10,000 for projectsthat improve communities, and the lives of people within them. The

application form is short and simple and can be found atwww.awardsforall.org.uk. If you require a hard copy call 0845 41020 30.Over the coming months Aidan, BIG Lottery Fund and Chase CVS willbe promoting other Lottery opportunities in the Cannock area.

MP quizzed during school visit

Aidan with Hednesford Valley High Head Teacher Anita Rattanand pupils (from left to right) Steven Green, Bethany Kril, Amy

Rose, Billy Baker and Ryan Harvey.

Aidan recently paid a visit to Hednesford Valley High School to meetwith the pupils and staff.

Aidan was met on arrival by Head Teacher Anita Rattan where hewas given a tour of the school. After the tour, Aidan attended a specialschool assembly on the topic of 'singing' where he presentedcertificates to students with outstanding achievement before listening

to an original song by the pupils. After the assembly Aidan held aQuestion and Answer session with Year 10 students about life as aMP.The school, located at Stanley Road in Hednesford, is a genericsecondary special catering for pupils between the ages of 11-19 withspecial educational needs.Commenting Aidan said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to HednesfordValley High and I'm grateful to Mrs Rattan for showing me around.This school is an important part of the local community providingspecialist tailored teaching to its 130 local pupils. I particularly enjoyedthe Q&A session where the children posed some very interesting

questions about life as an MP."Head Teacher Mrs Rattan said: "It was fascinating for our students tolearn about the work of our local MP and to have the opportunity toask him questions. We really hope he enjoyed his time with us andlook forward to welcoming him again soon."

A radical, reforming BudgetYesterday the Chancellor of the Exchquer delivered a Budget thatsupports work.

This is a radical, reforming Budget that helps Britain earn its way inthe world. It is a Budget that rewards work, unashamedly backsbusinesses and puts the Government on the side of those who aspireto do better for themselves and their families.SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES

George Osborne wanted to help working families on middle and lowerincomes. That is why he announced the largest ever increase in thepersonal allowance, a tax cut of up to 220 for 24 million incometaxpayers next year. Together with previous increases, this meansthat this Government will have taken 2 million of the lowest paid out oftax altogether, and basic rate taxpayers will be up to 526 better off.

SCRAPPING THE DAMAGING 50p RATE

No Chancellor can justify a tax rate that damages our economy andraises next to nothing. This is why the Chancellor announced that theGovernment is reducing the top rate of income tax to 45p, so Britainno longer has the highest rate of income tax of any major economy.This tax undermined our competitiveness and independent evidencehas shown that it only raised a fraction of what was intended. Theindependent analysis is that the direct cost of cutting it is 100 million,and if you include the effect on other taxes it could be nothing. TheTreasury is raising 500 million through new taxes on the wealthiestparts of society. They have already capped benefits, now they are

capping income tax relief and have also introduced a new stamp dutyrate for properties worth more than 2 million, but not a Mansion Tax.ACTION ON CHILD BENEFIT

It cannot be fair for someone on 20,000 to pay for the Child Benefitof someone on 80,000. This is why George Osborne announcedchild benefit will be withdrawn when someone in the household hasan income of more than 50,000. To prevent a cliff-edge, thiswithdrawal will be gradual, meaning only those households wheresomeone earns more than 60,000 will lose all their child benefit. Thismeans that 90 per cent of families will be eligible for child benefit.

TAX REFORM TO BOOST COMPETITIVENESSThis is a Budget that unashamedly backed business, large and small.The Government is simplifying small business taxes and theChancellor has also cut corporation tax again. This means Britain ison our way to a 22 per cent corporation tax rate - one of the lowest inthe world. The Government are also backing British success storieswith policies to help aerospace, pharmaceuticals, creative industriesand energy.STICKING TO OUR PLAN ON THE DEFICIT

Yesterday George Osborne reaffirmed the Governments unwaveringcommitment to deal with the debts left behind by Labour, whichmeans the UK is spending over 120 million every day on debt

interest. Which is why the Chancellor is sticking to the plan. TheGovernments credibility is helping to keep interest rates low forhouseholds and businesses around the country. If they listened toLabour's calls for more spending, more borrowing, and more debtthey would risk a sudden loss of confidence and a sharp rise ininterest rates.For more details of the Budget, you can read the Chancellorsstatement and the full document on the Treasury website here.

Aidan welcomes great opportunity

for 16 year olds in Cannock Chase

Aidan has welcomed the launch of the second year of National CitizenService.National Citizen Service is a scheme for 16-year-olds first proposedby David Cameron in 2005 and now introduced by the Coalitiongovernment. It brings together 16-year-olds from differentbackgrounds in the summer after they have taken their GCSEs towork together and give something back to their communities. Afterthree weeks of team-building and outdoors activities, participantsspend 30 hours helping improve their communities.

There will be 30,000 places available on National Citizen Service thissummer, including 210 in Staffordshire. By 2014 there will be 90,000places available and it is our ambition that there will ultimately beplaces available for all 16-year-olds. Aidan has already written to allsecondary schools in Cannock Chase urging them to encourage theirstudents to get involved in the scheme.Commenting Aidan said: "National Citizen Service is a fantastic ideaand a great thing for young people to do."It is all about giving young people the chance to come together fromdifferent backgrounds, have new experiences, learn new skills,understand how to work as a team, and give something back to thecommunity. It's also great news for the rest of us, as all young peopletaking part spend 30 hours making their community a better place."I am very pleased that there are 210 places on National CitizenService for young people in Staffordshire and I hope that eventually allyoung people in Cannock Chase will be able to benefit."

Aidan in Parliament:

Aidan questions Energy Minister on new

nuclear power plantsThursday 8th March 2012

Click the image above to watch Aidans question and theMinisters reply.

The full text of the exchange was as follows:Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): What discussionshe has had with private contractors on the construction of the next

generation of nuclear power stations.Charles Hendry (Minister of State (Renewable Energy), Energyand Climate Change; Wealden, Conservative): My Departmentregularly meets companies from different parts of the supply chain todiscuss the next generation of nuclear power stations and how theycan contribute to meeting our energy security and carbon reductiongoals.The UK Government are committed to ensuring that UK companiesare in a position to compete for the business opportunities that newnuclear can provide, both in the UK and globally.

Aidan Burley: My constituents will welcome the news that Ministersare working with the supply chain and nuclear reactor vendors to helpcreate and support a globally competitive supply chain. What steps isthe Minister taking to ensure that the majority of the UKs new nuclearplants are constructed, manufactured and engineered by Britishcompanies? Will he pledge to include socio-economic factors in theinvitations to tender, as so many other European countries do intheirs?Charles Hendry: We are keen to learn to be more like the Frenchand to understand how we can do that more effectively in thesematters. We work closely with companies such as Areva andWestinghouse, which have assured us that they have a real

commitment to developing supply chains here in the United Kingdom.We are working with local enterprise partnerships to ensure that theskills base is there. The partnership between Areva and Rolls-Royceis a fantastic example of how we can develop that in the UnitedKingdom and then those skills can be taken to the rest of the world.

Burley backs end to automatic settlement

for unskilled workers

Aidan Burley MP has backed new Home Office rules which meanunskilled immigrants will no longer have an automatic right to settle in

the UK.Until now someone who had lived in the UK for five years was virtuallyguaranteed to be allowed to settle here permanently.Those who have settled here in the past have tended to be lower-earners than those who have not. Now in order to settle workers mustbe paid at least 35,000.Commenting Aidan said: In 1997 fewer than 10,000 migrant workersand their dependants were granted the right to settle permanently inthe UK, but after thirteen years of Labour government this rose to84,000. Conservatives are now getting a grip and ensuring that only

the brightest and best are allowed to remain here permanently.At a time of high unemployment, we owe it to workers in CannockChase to ensure that our migration system does not cause a relianceon migrant labour.Immigration Minister, Damian Green MP said: Settlement in the UK isa privilege. We are sweeping aside the idea that everyone who comeshere to work can settle and instead reserving this important right onlyfor the brightest and best.Our reforms of the immigration system will ensure we are moreselective not only about those who are allowed to come here but also

those who are allowed to stay permanently.

Aidan welcomes new stalking laws

Aidan has welcomed new government action to tackle stalking.Commenting after the Prime Minister announced that the governmentwould create two new criminal offences of stalking and stalking wherethere is a fear of violence, Aidan said: "Stalking is a terrible crimewhich can ruin lives. It breaks-up relationships, often forces thevictims to move house and can make them feel as though they are

being watched 24 hours a day."Tragically we know that stalking can sometimes lead to physicalviolence. By putting stalking on the statute books as a criminal offencethe government is supporting victims and giving an extra weapon toour local police as they fight this heinous crime."Home Secretary Theresa May MP said: "Stalking is an issue whichaffects many lives, often in devastating ways. That is why we aretaking it seriously and introducing these new offences. Offendersneed to know that they will be brought to justice for making others'lives a misery.

"We will do all we can to protect victims of stalking more effectivelyand to end this appalling crime."

Aidan in the media:

MP urges change in

powered wheelchair lawBBC News website

Tuesday 20th March 2012

The government is being urged toalter the law so that children under14 can use heavier motorisedwheelchairs.Currently any chair weighing morethan 150kg is classified as a car.But Conservative MP Aidan Burleyargued that advances in technology mean chairs for the most severelydisabled had become heavier, as they contained more devices toenable better mobility.

During a Commons debate he called for the limit to rise to 200kg andfor the minimum age rule to be removed.His 10-minute rule bill was accepted by MPs without a vote takingplace. This means it could go on to further consideration, although itsonly hope of becoming law is if the government adopts it.Mr Burley, who represents Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, said the1988 Road Traffic Act, under which the current regulations are setout, was "out of date".He wants the law on "Class 3" wheelchairs, the type used by peoplewith the most severe disabilities and holding the most equipment, to

be changed.At the moment it is illegal for people under the age of 14 to use them.Meanwhile any wheelchair weighing more than 150kg is classified asa car and, therefore, only to be driven by people over the age of 17who hold a driving licence.'Very arbitrary'Mr Burley told the BBC: "The modern chairs have moved onmassively in the past few years. They have more grip, robust tyresand facilities like oxygen chambers and better movement."As a consequence they've become heavier, pushing many of themabove 150kg, and meaning that kids can't use them."That's why I want the limit to be raised to 200kg and for the age limitto go on Class 3 wheelchairs."He added: "The age limit is very arbitrary. It's not fair that a 13-and-a-half-year-old with a degenerative disease can't have the level offreedom that the chair would provide."These are the most disabled children, the ones with great breathingdifficulties. A lot of these children are going to die soon and this isabout trying to make their last years, or even months, as comfortableas possible."

The government recently raised the maximum weight for Class 2wheelchairs - for those who do not have the most severe disabilitiesbut still need some motorisation of the chair - from 110 kg to 150 kg.Ten-minute rule bills do not normally result in a change in governmentpolicy, but Mr Burley said he was hopeful of an alteration in the law forClass 3 chairs, as transport minister Norman Baker and Maria Miller,minister for disabled people, had attended the debate.The disabled children's charity Newlife, based in Mr Burley'sconstituency, is also calling for a change in the law.

The MP said: "Some organisations, such as health providers, areusing the current law in an attempt to save money by not providingchildren with the best chairs."But charities such as Newlife, who want to help and aren't usingpublic money, are being denied the chance to do so. This has tochange."

Aidan in the papers:

Councils workers in wage loss

of 2m for big strikeExpress & Star

Tuesday 13th March 2012Striking council staff andteachers forfeited 2million in wages by goingon strike for a day, it can be revealed.Figures obtained by the Express & Star reveal that 29,131 councilworkers in Staffordshire and the Black Country had money dockedfrom their pay for walking out on November 30.

More than 1m in wages was forfeited by striking staff in Staffordshirealone, while across the whole region a further 2,611 staff working foremergency services and the NHS had their pay docked by more than170,000.Councils are now able to use the money they have saved to helpoffset millions of pounds of spending cuts.It has taken until now to find out the sums and numbers of peopleinvolved because staff were given two months to come up with otherreasons why they might not have been in work on the day of thebiggest public sector strike in more than 80 years.

Most authorities refused to answer a Freedom of Information Actrequest until after the January payroll had been calculated. Publicsector workers, from lollipop and dinner ladies to teachers andlibrarians, stayed away in a row over pension reform.Hospitals were forced to get senior managers and back office workersonto the reception desks while police civilian staff put pressure oncontrol rooms, detention suites, forensics and enquiries by walkingout.Today there were calls for councils to use the money they saved tooffer parking discounts and offset the cuts they are having to make to

cope with cut government grants.One MP has even said councils should question whether they need allthe workers who walked out because the world did not stop.Sandwell Council is offering community groups the chance to bid fora 15,000 pot of cash that has come from the salaries that weredocked by striking.However the council revealed it saved itself 217,357 from 3,419striking workers, 911 teachers and 1,054 who did not come into work.Schools were forced to shut and parents faced major disruption onNovember 30 as they had to find alternative arrangements for theirchildren.More than 300 Cannock Chase Council staff downed tools, along withanother 140 from the Lichfield authority, while 8,324 teachers andcouncil staff from Staffordshire County Council also went on strike.Ministers say public sector workers enjoy gold plated pensions thatare unsustainable as Britain is trying to rein in its massive publicspending deficit.Chris Kelly, Conservative MP for Dudley South, said: It was a majorstrike and had a huge impact on public services.

Aidan Burley, MP for Cannock Chase, added: The salary forfeited bythe striking workers across Staffordshire and now saved in thecouncils bank accounts should be used to immediately fundtemporary free parking in our town centres.Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council,said the money saved would be used to the benefit of the community.He said: We have asked for a report suggesting using part of this forthe voluntary sector.

Aidan in Parliament:Aidan presents new Bill

on powered wheelchairs

Tuesday 20th March 2012

The full text of Aidans speech was as follows:Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): I beg to move,That leave be given to bring in a Bill to increase the 150 kg weight

limit for class 3 powered wheelchairs used on a public footway to 200kg; to remove the lower age limit of 14 years on use of class 3wheelchairs; and for connected purposes.My Bill would amend the Road Traffic Act 1988. The amendmentwould remove the 150 kg weight limit and the lower age limit of 14years on class 3 wheelchairs. That would in effect modernise the1988 Act to adapt it to modern technology, enabling severely disabledchildren, including those under the age of 14, to use high-specificationpowered wheelchairs on a public footway.I decided to introduce this Bill after learning of a remarkable campaignby a organisation in my constituency, the brilliantly named NewlifeFoundation for Disabled Children. Newlife is a combination of charity,social enterprise and business, which exists to help children withdisabilities. Founded by Sheila Brown OBE in 1991 as the BirthDefects Foundation, it has helped around 4,000 UK children andspent over 5.5 million on vital equipment such as wheelchairs andchild safety seats. It has invested 11.3 million in medical researchand runs a nurse helpline, calls to which grew by 300% last year.Sadly, what Newlife has discovered over recent years is thatwheelchair providers, usually primary care trusts or local authorities,have found a loophole in the current law to avoid having to fund high-specification powered wheelchairs, to both adults and children whoneed them. It is good news that more children today are survivingillnesses and cancers, but the sad news is that one in three will still go

on to have a long-term disability as a result. With that increase inservice users, eagle-eyed wheelchair managers are regularly refusingto provide a sit to stand wheelchair, or vouchers towards thatequipment, for a child in their area, because their directors of riskhave become aware of legislation that actually makes providing thatequipment illegal, even for free through charities. That is then used asan excuse to save money in their budgets; they do not have to providethe expensive equipment needed. At the same time they preventcharities from providing it for free, at no cost to the taxpayer. PCTsare currently not balancing their books on the backs of the poor; theyare balancing their books on the backs of the most severely disabledchildren, which I am sure the whole House would find abhorrent in adeveloped country such as ours.

Working with local lawyers in Staffordshire, Newlife's excellentcampaign director, Susan Woodward, has established that thelegislation that needs amending is the Road Traffic Act, or ROTA. Inessence what has happened is that modern technology, which hasbeen used to develop better, more appropriate and enablingwheelchairs, has also caused the equipment to increase in weightsince ROTA was enacted. I do not believe for a moment that ROTAintended to discriminate against children getting the wheelchairs thatthey need. However, time and development of equipment have simplymoved on and ROTA has not kept up. My Bill is thereforeabout modernising ROTA to take account of modern, appropriate and

enabling wheelchairs and to end the absurd situation where disabledpeoples mobility is impaired further. Modern wheelchairs have simplygot heavier with adaptations such as motorised seats, communicationequipment, more robust tyres, other aids and oxygen cylinders.Meanwhile, the legislation has stood still.Under ROTA, wheelchairs are classified in three ways: class 1manual wheelchairs, class 2 powered wheelchairs weighing not morethan 113.4 kg or capable of reaching speeds above 4 mph, and class3 high-specification powered wheelchairs. It is the conditions relevantto class 3 that cause the problem. ROTA states that class 3wheelchairs must not be used by a person who is under the age of 14;that, when being used on a footway, the invalid carriagethe words

of the legislation show how old it ismust not be driven at a speedgreater than 4 mph; and that the unladen weight must not exceed 150kg. Other regulations within ROTA include the means of stopping,lighting, speed indicators, horns, vision and rear view mirrors.Essentially what all that means is that several of the high-specificationwheelchairs Newlife and other charities would like to provide havebecome illegal. That is because they would fail to meet therequirements for age, for weight and for certain wheelchairaccessories such as lights, horns and rear view mirrors.In essence, ROTA categorises very technologically advancedwheelchairs heavier than 150 kg as cars, which can be driven legallyonly by over-17s who hold a driving licence. Therefore, they cannot beprovided to children under 17, as they are too young; but nor can theybe provided to over-17s, as very few of the powered wheelchairs havelights, horns, rear view mirrors or a speed indicator. They are not cars;they are wheelchairs. The situation is clearly absurd.I am aware that the Department for Transport recently undertook aconsultation on possible reforms of highway mobility scooters andpowered wheelchairs. The Under-Secretary of State for Transport,Norman Baker, who I am delighted to see in his place, concluded thatno changes should be made regarding speed limits, weight limit or theminimum age for using a class 3 vehicle. In a written statement, hesaid:

I do not, at this stage, propose that there should be an

alternative to the current arrangements for registering class 3vehicles.

He did decide, however, that the maximum weight of class 2 poweredwheelchairs should be increased to 150 kg a move welcomed bymany disability charities, including Newlife.I am not clear why the Department stopped short of amendingprovisions for class 3 wheelchairs, and only increased the weight ofclass 2 to match that of class 3. Such an approach is illogical: whyhave different classes if they contain the same weight? If class 2 hasincreased to 150 kg, surely it is logical that class 3 should increase bya similar amount. The weight restrictions for class 3 wheelchairs were

devised more than 20 years ago, when wheelchairs were still calledinvalid carriages and were primitive compared with the designsavailable today. Modern designs provide for a sit to stand or liefacility and have longer battery life. They also provide for wider, morerobust tyres that allow users to travel on difficult, uneven terrain. Thatis why they are heavier: they can do more things and help disabledpeople more. Nowadays, it is not the equipment that is holding peopleback, but outdated legislation.The legislation does not allow any child under the age of 14 to useany mechanically propelled wheelchair over the weight of 150 kg.That is because it is a prescribed condition of class 3 invalidcarriages that they are not used by people under the age of 14.

However, that provision is now having the perverse effect ofpreventing severely disabled children under 14 from accessing high-specification wheelchairs, which could be of enormous benefit tothem. Young kids with degenerative conditions and very complexpostural requirements need these heavier and more sophisticatedhigh-spec chairs to help with lung and other organ function. The agerestrictions should therefore be removed to allow younger children tobenefit from the use of chairs that accurately reflect their needs.Of course we need to balance the safety of pedestrians and otherroad users with the mobility needs of users, but it is clear that thecurrent legislation arbitrarily discriminates against children under 14.Why not choose 13 and a half or 14 and one month? This is a civil

servants arbitrary measure. A much better basis would be a basicassessment of a childs ability to use the relevant high-specwheelchair, rather than an arbitrary age limit.To conclude, the Road Traffic Act 1988 was written when wheelchairswere an aid to mobility. Today, wheelchairs provide disabled childrenwith an aid to life. Children with the most disabling conditions rely ontheir wheelchair to meet their therapy and personal care needs, toprevent deterioration in their condition or theexperiencing of pain, and to provide access to education and familylife. For some children, their wheelchair lengthens their lifespan. The

Act therefore discriminates against the children who have the greatestneed for this equipment.We all know in this House that ten-minute rule Bills rarely make it onto the statute book. I am already anticipating the cry from Chris Bryantof House not sitting when I read out the date for my Second Readingdebate. However, I am honoured that both the Under-Secretary ofState for Transport, the hon. Member for Lewes, and the Minister fordisabled people, my hon. Friend Maria Miller, are sat here listeningfrom the Front Bench. I urge them when they leave this Chamber towork together to amend the legislation and use the opportunity toimprove the lives of some of the most needy in our society. To disableour disabled community further by legislation is simply nonsensical.We have 21st-century equipment and 1980s law. This is an easyamendment for the Government to make. It will allow charities and

statutory services to respond fully to need, instead of having a make-do, lesser alternative. Those are the reasons why we need the Bill,which I commend to the House.Question put and agreed to.Ordered,That Mr Aidan Burley, Dame Anne Begg, Stephen Gilbert, Keith Vaz,Stephen Lloyd, Jeremy Lefroy, John Glen, Karen Bradley, Priti Patel,David Morris, Christopher Pincher and Mr Robert Buckland presentthe Bill.

Mr Aidan Burley accordingly presented the Bill.Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 27 April2012 and to be printed (Bill 320).

5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:

By Phone: 01543 502 447

By email: aidan.burley.mp@parliament.uk

By post: Aidan Burley MP6 High Green Court,Newhall StreetCannock, WS11 1GR

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Aidan Burley MP Putting Cannock Chase First!

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