§ 24. Mrs. Castleasked the Minister of Health why he has refused to supply a two-seater vehicle to Mr. Bernard Hargreaves of Blackburn, who is so severely disabled with multiple sclerosis that he cannot walk, and who cannot accommodate either a passenger or his wheel-chair in his invalid tricycle.
§ Mr. BraineThese vehicles are supplied only to war pensioners.
§ Mrs. CastleThat is what I am complaining about. I am asking the hon. Gentleman if he will reconsider that 905 policy. Is he not aware that these civilian disabled people, who cannot walk a yard, have to transfer immediately from their invalid tricycles to wheel chairs at each end of their journeys? How does he expect such people to maintain normal employment unless they have a vehicle large enough to hold either a wheel chair or a passenger so that assistance is available at either end of their journeys? Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that that is the way in which Mr. Hargreaves has been severely inconvenienced, so will he please alter the policy he has described?
§ Mr. BraineI was concerned in answering the hon. Lady's Question, which refers to the specific case of Mr. Hargreaves, who is not a war pensioner. Mr. Hargreaves is an ex-Service man and he has, I understand, made representations quite recently to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. If those are successful—and this is something quite outside the sphere of my right hon. Friend's responsibilities—we will certainly look into the matter again to see what we can do to help.
§ Sir G. NicholsonIs this not also, in a way, the business of the Ministry of Labour? Surely these problems should not be looked at only from the point of view of health or war disability considerations, but also from the labour aspect?
§ Mr. BraineIf my hon. Friend puts a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour he will, no doubt, get an Answer, but it is not a matter appropriate for me to answer.
§ Mrs. CastleBut is the hon. Gentleman not aware that I have already tried to help this man to get a war pension? He has been turned down, and is the Joint Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the whole point of my Question is that a person, whether he be a war pensioner or any other disabled person should, if he is to maintain his normal employment, have a two-seater vehicle? Will the hon. Gentleman look at the present policy and the way it affects the whole range of disabled people?
§ Mr. BraineAll credit is due to the hon. Lady for her efforts in the matter, but the point is that this man has appealed to his local war pensions com- 906 mittee. I understand that that body was dissatisfied with the reply it got. It is an influential organisation with a strong reputation and its views are very much taken into account.
As I say, Mr. Hargreaves has made fresh representations and, until the outcome of those is known, it is impossible for my Department to take a decision. The representations are made to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance and not to the Ministry of Health.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIs the Joint Parliamentary Secretary not aware that there is widespread support on both sides of the House for an extension of this benefit to cover other than war pensioners? Does he not recall that this matter has been raised on many occasions in the last two or three years? Is it not time that he undertook to do something about it, bearing in mind the additional fact that to do so would not cost very much?
§ Mr. BraineThere may be something in that, but that is not the Question on the Order Paper. I am not called upon today to answer that point. The hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson) is the spokesman for his party on these matters and has plenty of opportunities to raise the subject at the appropriate time, which is not here on a specific question referring to a specific case.