The government’s labor ministry declined the Duma’s suggestion to allow the use of maternity capital for purchasing a family car. The proposal came from Yana Lantratova, the first deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on Education, who had asked the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to consider the change. The ministry did not back the idea, and a clear explanation followed from Moscow. The official reply from the minister’s office stated that this question remains a recurring topic raised by parents, yet it cannot be approved in its current form due to fundamental concerns (Parlamenskaya Gazeta, cited).
In a response letter, Anton Kotyakov, head of the Ministry, emphasized that many families approach him with questions about using parental capital for car purchases. He warned that such purchases do not address the core issue of securing children’s rights to ownership of real estate and may complicate family relationships. In the event of a family dispute or divorce, the imposition of a ban on transferring or disposing of the vehicle would not guarantee that all children’s property rights are protected (Parlamenskaya Gazeta, cited).
The minister pointed out additional practical concerns: after buying a car, funds are set aside for insurance, ongoing maintenance, and repairs. These costs can accumulate and affect the financial stability of the family over time, potentially undermining future resources meant for children’s needs and education (Parlamenskaya Gazeta, cited).
From the minister’s perspective, while a car might offer short-term convenience for a family with children, it is unlikely to yield lasting improvements in overall well-being. He also highlighted the risks of potential misuse of vehicles and inefficient use of budget resources, arguing that the policy would not ensure prudent use of public funds or equitable treatment of all dependents (Parlamenskaya Gazeta, cited).
- Earlier, Maxim Sokolov, the head of AVTOVAZ, voiced arguments in favor of allowing parental capital to be used for buying a car, framing it as a practical support measure for families (AVTOVAZ statements, cited).
- Further commentary and reactions can be found on social platforms, including discussions on Odnoklassniki under the tag about the policy proposal (platform discussions, cited).