Iain Duncan Smith has ordered a crackdown on thousands of families with youngsters diagnosed with ‘naughty child syndrome’ who get new cars paid for by the state.
The Work and Pensions Secretary has been shocked to learn that the families of more than 3,000 people suffering Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are believed to have been given vehicles under the £1.5 billion-a-year Motability scheme.
Mr Duncan Smith is determined to stop what he regards as abuse of free cars for the disabled as part of his campaign to curb the UK’s annual £192billion benefits bill.
The number of people with cars paid for by the Government-funded Motability scheme has soared to 575,000 – up by 200,000 in just over ten years.
The number of claimants receiving disability benefit for ADHD – or hyperkinetic disorder, as it is categorised by welfare officials – has rocketed from 800 a decade ago to 43,100 last year.
An additional 55,900 claimants are given handouts for ‘behavioural disorders’, taking the total for ADHD-related conditions to 99,000. It has led to claims that a lack of proper checks has led to widespread abuse.
Mr Duncan Smith was enraged to be told initially by his department that there were no precise numbers on how many people with the condition received free cars.
However, after persistent enquiries by The Mail on Sunday, officials finally revealed that 3,200 such claimants qualified.
Motability was launched in 1978 with a handful of specially modified cars, such as motorised blue three-wheel trikes and Mini Clubman Estates with a ramp at the back for a wheelchair.
But now it is the biggest fleet-management outfit in the UK. Mike Betts, its chief executive, earns £1.17 million a year.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1aEx1p0ep
Free cars for naughty kids....
Free cars for naughty kids....
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Free cars for naughty kids....
I'm not sure why, in an environment where severe financial austerity measures are necessary, the British government is handing out free cars to anyone....
Re: Free cars for naughty kids....
Unfortunately, I understand exactly how bad an idea this is; it's because of his driving that I'm completely positive now that my Geekmate has ADHD.
For a little over a month, I've had to travel up north to Concord a few days a week. For reasons I will explain later, the Geek has been going to his parent's house up in Antioch, which is only a few miles away from Concord, so at first I thought it was a good thing that I could hitch a ride with him.
...imagine my horror that when driving that far in boring commute traffic, without constant stimulation -he starts falling asleep at the wheel!
It's not because of tiredness or illness, but everytime he's stuck in a car for longer than fifteen, twenty minutes. Playing the radio, isn't enough; nor is trying to talk to him, enough to keep him fully conscious! He'll start snoozin' and weaving, just past Fremont, where I've discovered that his usual routine is to pull over; pick up some fast food and down a 5-hour energy drink; the caffeine and finger food will be just enough distraction to keep his eyes open for the last half of the journey.
The world does NOT need more ADHD drivers on the road!
Now-A-days, I'm taking BART.
For a little over a month, I've had to travel up north to Concord a few days a week. For reasons I will explain later, the Geek has been going to his parent's house up in Antioch, which is only a few miles away from Concord, so at first I thought it was a good thing that I could hitch a ride with him.
...imagine my horror that when driving that far in boring commute traffic, without constant stimulation -he starts falling asleep at the wheel!
It's not because of tiredness or illness, but everytime he's stuck in a car for longer than fifteen, twenty minutes. Playing the radio, isn't enough; nor is trying to talk to him, enough to keep him fully conscious! He'll start snoozin' and weaving, just past Fremont, where I've discovered that his usual routine is to pull over; pick up some fast food and down a 5-hour energy drink; the caffeine and finger food will be just enough distraction to keep his eyes open for the last half of the journey.
The world does NOT need more ADHD drivers on the road!
Now-A-days, I'm taking BART.
Re: Free cars for naughty kids....
BART doesn't run to Antioch. 
Getting back to the OT...
Everytime Gob posts something about the UK, I'm glad to have visited when I did.
The years of 1965-66 were indeed a magical time.
IMNSHO, ADHD along with ADD are grossly misdiagnosed on a grand scale due to financial incentives for both practioner and client.
Getting back to the OT...
Everytime Gob posts something about the UK, I'm glad to have visited when I did.
The years of 1965-66 were indeed a magical time.
IMNSHO, ADHD along with ADD are grossly misdiagnosed on a grand scale due to financial incentives for both practioner and client.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Free cars for naughty kids....
I wasn't going to Antioch, I was going to Concord. 