FUEL POV ERTY, TAX EXCLUSION AND DISABLED DRIVERS

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Conference
2011 National Disabled Members' Conference
Date
14 July 2011
Decision
Carried as Amended

This Conference recognises the importance of independent mobility as a civil right for disabled people, we also regret that in the 21st Century the majority of public transport vehicles and transport infrastructure remains inaccessible to a great number of disabled people.

Disabled people continue to face greater living costs associated with disability and this applies in terms of fuel mobility and taxation rates. All domestic fuel customers face taxation rates of 5%. Transport fuel tax charges are levied at 20%. VAT on transport fuel is levied at 20% in addition to the 57.9p per litre fuel duty

This Conference agrees to instruct the National Disabled Members’ Committee to:

a)Consult the Water, Environment and Transport (WET) Service Group for guidance about community alliance organisations that share the objective of reducing the tax levy to a level that better reflects the additional mobility costs associated with transport for disabled people’s needs, and

b)Via the Policy, Development and Campaigns Committee establish an amendment to UNISON’s environment policy to accept that some disabled people’s mobility issues require the union to adapt its green policy to make it more responsive to disabled members civil rights.