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		Price of mobility scooters to soar Monday, 3rd September 2007 MEPs outraged as EU decision hikes up cost of mobility scooters New EU rules about the classification of motor vehicles could seriously disadvantage disabled people and see the cost of mobility scooters rocket by more than £250 East Midlands Conservative MEPs Chris Heaton-Harris and Roger Helmer warned today.   Under a new EU directive on import codes, mobility scooters are to now be classified as ‘motor vehicles’ rather than as vital disability equipment which they were known as before.  As a result, when they are imported to the UK, an import duty of 10% is now being imposed, instead of the previous duty of 0%. Not only will the costs rise by £250 to account for this, but also some companies who are unable to pay back demands may also go out of business reducing choice of product to disabled people.  The EU has also made UK customs officials aware that the vehicles were being improperly coded and so HMRC has begun to track down the companies concerned and issue demands for back payments of the duty from as far back as three years.  Speaking today, Mr Heaton-Harris said:  “This is a ridiculous situation and yet another example of the repercussions of unnecessary EU legislation. These vehicles are medical devices that have always been very clearly designed for disabled people and are effectively a different type of wheelchair and not a motor vehicle. The British government must take up the fight with the EU to get this position reviewed as swiftly as possible.”  Mr Helmer, who today visited EV Technology Ltd in Lutterworth to hear more about the issue and its impact both on the UK mobility industry and on vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society added: “I was delighted to be able to visit EV Technology today and to discuss this problem that has ramifications for thousands of people across the East Midlands. I will be certainly take up the issue with the Health Minister Alan Johnson”.