MP Urges Powered Wheelchair Law Change

The government is being urged to alter the law so that children under 14 can use heavier motorised wheelchairs.

Currently any chair weighing more than 150kg is classified as a car.

But Conservative MP Aidan Burley argues that advances in technology mean chairs for the most severely disabled have become heavier, as they contain more devices to enable better mobility.

During a Commons debate he will call for the limit to rise to 200kg and for the minimum age rule to be removed.

Mr Burley, who represents Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, told the BBC that the 1988 Road Traffic Act under which the current regulations are set out, was “out of date”.

Hi is focusing on “Class 3” wheelchairs, the type used by people with the most severe disabilities and holding the most equipment.

‘Very arbitrary’

Mr Burley said: “The modern chairs have moved on massively in the past few years. They have more grip, robust tyres and facilities like oxygen chambers and better movement.

“As a consequence they’ve become heavier, pushing many of them above 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 limit to 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 of freedom that the chair would provide.

“These are the most disabled children, the ones with great breathing difficulties. A lot of these children are going to die soon and this is about trying to make their last years, or even months, as comfortable as possible.”

The government recently raised the maximum weight for Class 2 wheelchairs – for those who do not have the most severe disabilities but still need some motorisation of the chair – from 110 kg to 150 kg.

Mr Burley, in his 10-minute rule bill, will attempt to introduce a similar increase for Class 3 chairs.

The disabled children’s charity Newlife, based in his constituency, is also calling for a change in the law.

Ten-minute rule bills do not normally result in a change in government policy, but Mr Burley said he had spoken to transport ministers and was hopeful of an alteration.

He added: “Some organisations, such as health providers, are using the current law in an attempt to save money by not providing children with the best chairs.

“But charities such as Newlife, who want to help and aren’t using public money, are being denied the chance to do so. This has to change.”

The bill will be debated at about 1530 GMT.