HC Deb 23 November 1959 vol 614 cc24-7
42. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the proposal to provide a second seat in motor tricycles for the disabled.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Edith Pitt)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Norwood (Sir J. Smyth) and the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 16th November.

Mr. Dodds

Has any progress been made? When is it likely that there will be these sort of tricycles in which disabled persons can be accompanied by a wife or friend?

Miss Pitt

I take it that the hon. Gentleman is referring to National Health Service patients, in which case there is no power under the National Health Service Act to extend the provision of motor tricycles to two-seater vehicles which would enable the disabled person to take a friend.

Mr. Paget

Why does not "motor tricycle" mean a three-wheel motor vehicle? The regulation, as I read it, means that a three-wheel motor vehicle with two seats can be provided as well as a vehicle which has one seat, and it is still a motor tricycle. Why is not that so?

Miss Pitt

As I explained last week, it is the general duty of my right hon. and learned Friend to provide services, including hospital treatment and accommodation. It is under that power that we are enabled to provide a vehicle for a disabled person.

Sir J. Smyth

Does my hon. Friend realise that the guarantee given in the Conservative Party manifesto at the General Election to the effect that particular attention would be paid to providing suitable vehicles for the badly disabled gave the very greatest hope and encouragement to all persons and organisations who have been working towards that end for years? The fact that the Government realise at last that these vehicles are unsuitable is a great step forward.

Miss Pitt

The pledge in the Conservative Party manifesto to which my hon. and gallant Friend referred related to war pensioners only. It was contained in a passage which referred to services for war pensioners.

Dr. Summerskill

Will the hon. Lady reconsider this, because circumstances are changing? These disabled men are much older. They are in need of care and help when they go out in any vehicle. They are not the type to abuse a tricycle. In these circumstances, there are so few needed that the Ministry might reconsider this.

Miss Pitt

I do not agree with the right hon. Lady that these men are getting older, save in the context of war pensioners. People are suffering disabling injury all the time and I would expect to find that they are a representative cross-section of ages. If the right hon. Lady asks me to reconsider the policy of providing vehicles for disabled persons who are National Health Service patients, I will certainly convey that point to my right hon. and learned Friend.

Mr. Bevan

The hon. Lady gave the impression to the House that there was some legal inhibition in the National Health Service Act preventing it. I have no recollection of such an inhibition.

Miss Pitt

I find it a little difficult to correct the right hon. Gentleman, but the power contained in the National Health Service Act only permits my right hon. and learned Friend to provide a single-seater vehicle—

Mr. Paget

That is not so.

Miss Pitt

—and it would be stretching it beyond the legislation we now have to provide a two-seater vehicle.

Mr. Bevan

Will the hon. Lady consider taking legal advice on this? I think she will find that she is slightly wrong.

Miss Pitt

I am sure that I am correct, but I am certainly prepared to consult my right hon. and learned Friend and to take legal advice.

49. Sir J. Smyth

asked the Minister of Health what would be the cost of replacing the invalid tricycles now on issue to badly disabled ex-Service men by some type of small two-seater car; and what would be the additional cost of replacing the tricycles now on issue to equally badly disabled National Health Service patients.

Miss Pitt

Any comparison of cost must depend on the type of car selected, and is part of the review of the possibility of replacing invalid tricycles by larger vehicles to which I referred last week.

Sir J. Smyth

Would not my hon. Friend agree that the sum involved is very small in comparison with the great comfort it would give to these very badly disabled people whom we should help? If, as she said a little earlier, some slight amendment of the Act is required, then, from what I know of this House, it would pass the Bill in an afternoon.

Miss Pitt

I hope that it will turn out to be small, but the review I mentioned will go into the costs in capital and annual maintenance both of developing the present tricycle into a two-seater tricycle and of replacing the present tricycles with small cars.

Dr. Summerskill

As the hon. Lady knows the numbers, can she not tell the House the cost now so that we can assess the importance of this small but humane reform?

Miss Pitt

I am sorry, but I am not able to tell the House now because, as yet, we are still considering the type of vehicle that will fit this particular need.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Is my hon. Friend aware that invalid tricycles are now given a wide berth on the road, chiefly out of respect and reassurance to the occupants? If these people are now to be prescribed two-seater cars, will they receive the same protection in future? It is a quite important problem.

Miss Pitt

That is not a question for my Ministry, but I must make clear to my hon. Friend that the cars relate only to the war disabled.