Motability bosses face probe over ‘grotesque’ pay packets

THE bosses in charge of Motability face a grilling from MPs over the disabled car firm’s huge salaries and enormous cash pile.

Chairman Neil Johnson is being hauled back from a trip to the United States for the showdown on March 5.

He and £1.7million chief executive Mike Betts, 55, will be quizzed over the £2.4billion amassed by the car scheme for the disabled, which the Mail revealed this week.

Their grilling will be conducted by Labour MPs Frank Field – who branded BHS tycoon Sir Philip Green the ‘unacceptable face of capitalism’ during a similar inquisition in 2016 – and John Mann, who described the pay at the firm as ‘grotesque’.

The inquiry, conducted jointly by the Treasury select committee and Work and Pensions committee, is one of three probes triggered by a Daily Mail investi- gation into Motability. The Government has vowed to claw back the ‘spare’ £2.4billion the firm has stockpiled. It could build seven new hospitals.

Motability is a ‘not for profit’ company, yet those who run it earn vast sums. David Gilman, 65, the firm’s former second-incommand, was paid £1.1million in 2016, while his successor Matthew Hamilton-James, 44, earned £550,000 last year. Along with chairman Mr Johnson, on £173,000, and director Neill Thomas, earning £64,000, the executives enjoy luxury lifestyles.

Yesterday Mr Field said: ‘It is an affront to the disabled. It is not like these people are running a county police force or Carillion. Cars for the disabled is bread and butter stuff.’

Mr Mann, the Labour MP for Bassetlaw, said: ‘The money given to the Motability scheme exists to improve the lives of disabled people ... The fact that those at the top have been skimming off the excess is an insult.’

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey has praised the Mail for exposing the scandal.

Motability says it ‘welcomes’ scrutiny from Parliament.

‘An affront to the disabled’