Was checking out mobility equipment this morning , and comparing prices. The VAT on prices makes a chunky difference . Not concerned on personal grounds, but wondered about the logic of the rules which exempt some people from paying the VAT.

"Note that it is illegal to make false declarations. The illness or disability must also be of a long-term 'chronic' nature. Old age or a broken bone that is healing for example, do not qualify."

So for example -- if your gran is 90 odd , has no particular disability but obviously at that age does not have the ability to walk around Chester or along the towpath with the family without a scooter , shouldn't she be just as entitled to get exemption from VAT as someone of 70 who because of arthritis , cant do those things with their family either without a scooter? Its not a means tested thing , old age is as permanent as any other chronic disability , so I really cant see the difference?

Seems to me these days more and more people are using mobility scooters and a lot of the time it looks like their only disability is being grossly over weight . Must watch what I say, I'm getting a bit portly myself

I've got to agree with you there Dilly , I went to Llandudno last week and trying to walk down the pier was a nightmare dodging the mobility scooters , reminded me so much of Benidorm where they are everywhere and as you say not disabled really

Leave Benidorm out of this Cools , I'm back there in 6 or 7 weeks

Oh lucky you , I'll be going again but maybe next year ,love it ...

Even more unfair if people who are disabled by overeating get rewarded with an exemption whilst an elderly pensioner who has kept fit, gets financially penalized because they are now frail .

At 90 years old and limited walking capability that would fit the criteria as a "long term and substantial physical impairment". There is nothing that says you can only have a named disability.

Most people of that age also have diabetes which again gives them VAT exemption.

Temporary impairments (eg broken bones) do not qualify but there are other means of help for those.

Over 60's get VAT relief (lowered to 5%) for most types of HOME aids whether they have a disability/impairment or not.

I thought some of your comments regarding the people on mobility scooters were a bit uncharitable, in many cases, the obesity of the people on these scooters will have been caused by their disablement and their inability to exercise properly rather than sheer gluttony, and that many of them would far prefer to walk if they were able to, as you are lucky enough to be able to do.

Apart from water retention and some very rare medical problems, if you are overweight you have eaten too much food, there can be a thousand and one excuses but it doesn't alter the fact that a surplus of food has been eaten.

If someone has reduced mobility it is even more important to keep their weight down or put themselves at risk of things like strokes. Saying words like "your weight isn't your fault" is doing them no favours whatsoever.

I am overweight and it is by my own choice, I choose to keep my weight just under the obese mark for my own quality of life.

It is not "wrong" to be overweight per se, it is wrong to fool people (or yourself) about weight and the potential health impact, it is also wrong to impact other peoples' quality of life by being unnecessarily overweight.

Rubbish, What a black and white world you live in,

Thats quite right. Although your wasting your time trying to tell people with no idea whats its like to be in that situation, I hope one day he is and someome comes out with that rubbish to him,

Did you read ALL I said or did you assume you know what I said?

Its about time we got rid of VAT!

I walk everywhere Now as People getting on Buses Coughing and Sniffling and Not one Tissue in sight. I have got of Buses what looked like the Passenger`s are infected with Flu and only a Few use there hand to Cover when Coughing. Started doing it a few Winter ago Now walk everywhere with head Phones in. Thoe legs feel that someone has tied weights to my legs as it seems like every month a small pebble has been added to legs. If every get a wheel chair going to rig a Car battery to it and your seem me Flying down the New Chester Road in my B17 Flying suit just need Goggles and hat during ice Blizzard and i feel like bleeding Biggles