HC Deb 29 July 1957 vol 574 cc852-3
37. Mr. Simmons

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the average cost, excluding Purchase Tax, of the four-seater cars issued free to extremely disabled ex-Service war pensioners, and the cost of the latest coach-built single-seater motor invalid tricycles issued by his Department; and whether he contemplates converting the latter to two-seater vehicles.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

It is contrary to Government policy to disclose the prices at which Government contracts are awarded. I have re-examined the possibility of providing two-seater tricycles in place of single-seaters, but the conclusion I have regretfully come to is that this is not a development which I can reasonably contemplate.

Mr. Simmons

Surely the Minister knows that we cannot get a fair appraisal of what would be the cost of the invalid tricycles as compared with the cost of a car if he cannot give us the figures. Can he give us some idea of the cost of turning a tricycle into a two-seater car as compared with the already available four-seater car? Why should a disabled man be compelled to go out on his own every time? These people who use tricycles are badly disabled, and if they want to go out with their wives the wives have to travel either by tram or bus and the husbands have to meet them at the other end. It is not fair. Cannot the Minister do something about it?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

I cannot quite remember the beginning of the hon. Member's supplementary, but I can assure him that I have tried to look at this matter very sympathetically. There are a great many difficulties in the way. I think that he asked me one question, to which the answer is that the additional cost of a two-seater would be about£25.

Sir J. Smyth

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the last people who should be allowed to travel alone are the badly disabled? Will not he examine the possibility of converting for that purpose the little three-wheeled, two-seater car, so many of which we see on the roads today?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

I have looked into that proposal, but I am advised that from a technical point of view it has not so far proved feasible.

Mrs. Jeger

Will the Minister try to look at this matter from the point of view not only of disabled men but their wives? In very many cases those wives have a difficult time enough. Could not the Minister try to encourage some scheme which would make it possible for the wives to share in these outgoings and make the whole family a little happier in a very difficult situation?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

I hope that I have given this matter sympathetic consideration. It has been before the House on many occasions. There still remain the outstanding difficulties to which I have referred.