§ 8. Mr. Norwoodasked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to remove the condition that disabled war pensioners require to be in whole-time employment before being entitled to use of a motor car.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonMotor cars are supplied to disabled war pensioners under general powers conferred by Royal 17 Warrants. Employment is not a condition of supply for the most severely disabled who are unable or virtually unable to walk; for less severely disabled, cars are provided to enable them to get to and from their work and I do not think any change is called for at present.
§ Mr. NorwoodIs my right hon. Friend not aware that this makes an absurd anomaly, whereby those whom he described as the less severely disabled can get a car and go to work and thereby live a fuller life, whereas those who are incapable of going to work cannot get a car and have their lives restricted to an unnecessary extent? In view of the circumstances, could he not view this with sympathy?
§ Mr. RobinsonI think that my hon. Friend has it wrong. I am not surprised; it is rather complex. The same categories of eligibility for transport apply to National Health Service patients, but they are entitled to invalid tricycles and not to motor cars. Motor cars are supplied to war pensioners under the Royal Warrant.
§ Sir Anthony MeyerWould the Minister also consider the plight of some of these civilian disabled—some of them very severely disabled? These invalid tricycles are a pretty cheerless form of transport. The people concerned can travel only by themselves and if they have a breakdown they are entirely helpless. Would the Minister consider whether some more suitable vehicle could be provided so that they could travel with members of their families?
§ Mr. RobinsonThat hardly arises out of this Question, which relates to war pensioners. I have undertaken to review the whole question of transport for the disabled when the extensions announced last July have been fully implemented.