To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

(1) what information his Department holds on the number of people found to have wrongfully received support in respect of an adapted motor vehicle in (a) England and (b) Winchester and Chandler's Ford in the most recent period for which data is available;

(2) what assessment he has made of the eligibility criteria for the awarding of adapted cars for claimants of disability living allowance;

(3) how many people claiming the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance received an adapted motor vehicle in (a) England and (b) Winchester and Chandler's Ford in the latest period for which figures are available.

Support for adapted motor vehicles is available through the Motability scheme. The Department works closely with Motability but it is an independent charity and is wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability scheme. Specific questions relating to the operation of the scheme should be directed at Motability and can be sent to: Declan O'Mahony, Director, Motability, Warwick house, Roydon road, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5PX.

Motability has advised that the rigorous assessment process and criteria they use for determining support for adapted vehicles has meant that they have never identified any incidences of scheme customers receiving support they were not entitled to. Support for vehicle adaptations is provided through Motability's own charitable fund or the Specialised Vehicles Fund, which Motability administers on behalf of the Department.

The Specialised Vehicles Fund provides financial assistance to those severely disabled scheme customers who require complex vehicle adaptations that allow them to enter a car as a passenger while remaining seated in their wheelchair or enables them to drive their car whilst remaining seated in their wheelchair. The Department is satisfied that the criteria Motability use to sift applications to the Specialised Vehicles Fund helps severely disabled people who face barriers to living independently including those who are seeking or in employment or education.