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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983
THE FOUR AMENDING BILLS WERE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL FOR INCREASE IN COMPANY REGISTRATION FEE: BETTING DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL FOR INCREASES IN BETTING DUTY; ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL FOR INCREASES IN ANNUAL LICENCE FEES FOR SPECIFIED CLASSES OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AND ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL FOR INCREASES IN THE FEES FOR PROVISIONAL DRIVING LICENCES, ANNUAL DRIVING LICENCES AND DRIVING TESTS.
DEBATE ON THE BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
BILL TO GIVE CONCESSION TO DISABLED DRIVERS
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THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 IS TO PERMIT A DISABLED PERSON TO REGISTER A NEW CAR WITH A CIF VALUE OF UP TO $30 000 WITHOUT PAYING FIRST REGISTRATION TAX, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON KENNETH TOPLEY, SAID TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR TOPLEY SAID AS 370 DISABLED DRIVERS WERE DEPENDENT ON A CAR FOR MOBILITY, THIS LATEST CONCESSION WOULD SUPPORT AND REAFFIRM THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUING INTENTION TO ENSURE THE FULLEST POSSIBLE INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE LIFE OF THE IR COMMUNITIES+.
+THIS CONCESSION WILL BE ALLOWED ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS UNLESS THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT IS SATISFIED THERE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES JUSTIFYING A SHORTER PERIOD, HE ADDED.
UNDER THE BILL, A NUMBER OF DEFINITIONS IS ALSO AMENDED TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH THOSE USED IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 1982.
AMENDMENT IS ALSO MADE TO CLOSE A POSSIBLE LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW, WHEREBY A MOTOR VEHICLE IS FIRST REGISTERED IN A CATEGORY CARRYING A LOW RATE OF TAX AND, BY CHANGE OF USE, IS CONVERTED INTO A VEHICLE OF A CATEGORY WHICH WOULD HAVE ATTRACTED A HIGHER RATE OF TAX.
+ IN FUTURE THE DIFFERENCE IN TAX IN SUCH A CASE WOULD BE PAYABLE AND CALCULATED WITH REFERENCE TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED INITIALLY, HE EXPLAINED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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