HC Deb 01 March 1960 vol 618 cc1012-3
20. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mechanically-propelled vehicles were issued to disabled persons by his Department during each of the last five years.

Mr. Maclay

Since the Answer to the hon. Member's Question involves a number of figures, I shall, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Thomson

Is the Secretary of State aware that the standards applied to the award of these vehicles seem to be very mean and harsh and that there appears to be room for a generous increase in the number of these vehicles to be made available? Would the Minister look again at the case of a severely crippled constituent of mine, which I referred to him recently, who struggles heroically to work across the city every day instead of relying on public funds, and who is still declared ineligible for one of these vehicles?

Mr. Maclay

I will look at the matter again if the hon. Gentleman cares to write to me. In terms of one category only, the number of tricycles issued rose from 158 in 1955 to 292 in 1959.

Following are the figures:

NEW AND REPLACEMENT ISSUES OF CARS AND TRICYCLES
Year War Pensioners N.H.S. Patients Tricycles Total
Cars Tricycles
1955 10 35 158 203
1956 12 44 191 247
1957 16 30 189 235
1958 44 35 210 289
1959 49 36 292 377