HC Deb 06 December 1954 vol 535 cc574-6
7. Mr. Simmons

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of war pensioners who have been issued with motor-propelled tricycles, with weather protection and without weather protection, respectively, and the numbers of National Health Service patients who have weather-protected machines; and whether he will now give some preference in the provision of weather-protected machines to those who have been using open-type machines for many years.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)

On 30th September last, 1,354 war pensioners and 5,674 National Health Service patients had weather-protected machines, and 570 war pensioners had open machines. War pensioners have had, and will continue to enjoy, priority for the supply of weather-protected machines, and open ones are replaced as circumstances permit.

Mr. Simmons

Is the Minister not aware that under the programme of the former Minister of Pensions every war pensioner would by now have had a weather-protected machine? Is this not another example of the interests of war pensioners being swamped by greater numbers? Will the right hon. Gentleman give a firm assurance that the war pensioners will not be overlooked in this matter?

Mr. Macleod

Of course they will not be overlooked. Only weather-protected machines are now issued to war pensioners, and they will continue to have the priority that my answer indicated.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

How many men are still waiting for the weather-protected machines?

Mr. Macleod

According to the latest figures, 570 have open machines. A year ago the figure was 843, so we are making very good progress.

20. Mr. J. Hynd

asked the Minister of Health whether all outstanding arrears of repairs to disabled persons' electric tricycles have now been completed.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I am informed that the temporary difficulties in obtaining component parts have now been overcome and that all orders from repairers can be satisfied promptly by the makers.

Mr. Hynd

Did not the Minister know that there would be a shortage as long ago as July? Nothing apparently was done, and some people were kept waiting month on end without their machines until a Parliamentary Question was put down at the end of October, which elicited an immediate response, so that the machines were delivered. Can the Minister say what was the difficulty, and what has been done in the meantime to ensure that we are not likely to have a repetition of it?

Mr. Macleod

There is no reason to expect any repetition, although one cannot guarantee that there will not be holdups in a manufacturing industry. There is now no hold-up at all, and, as I understand, the Stanley Engineering Company, which is the one concerned, did everything it could to hasten the work from the beginning. However, it may have been that the Question put down helped. If it did, it would be another illustration of the value of Question Time.