HC Deb 27 April 1959 vol 604 cc875-6
15. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the privation suffered by disabled workers at the Remploy factory, Coventry, and elsewhere, because their invalid chairs accommodate only the driver, and that it would give much pleasure if a passenger could be included; and if he will consider doing so where possible.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Richard Thompson)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 13th April to the hon. Members for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner) and Rochdale (Mr. McCann).

Miss Burton

I heard those replies, but will the Ministry consider doing something about the matter where it is possible for another seat to be placed in these vehicles? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, when I visited the Remploy factory at Coventry some seven weeks ago, I was shown a Coventry-built Tippen tricycle in which there seemed to be adequate room for two people? Will the hon. Gentleman look into the matter?

Mr. Thompson

The need to provide space in tricycles for carrying another kind of folding chair rather militates against that. As the hon. Lady will have heard last week, I understand that the ex-Service men's associations are carrying out inquiries and experiments in this connection. Perhaps we had better see what comes from that.

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