HC Deb 29 March 1965 vol 709 cc1172-5
3. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Minister of Health how long cars adapted for disabled persons are retained before they are replaced.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Charles Loughlin)

Normally eight years, but the period varies according to the condition of the car.

Mr. Shepherd

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that I have one or two cases in my constituency where it appears to me that cars are being carried on to a life really beyond the practical limit? Will he see whether it is economically desirable, apart from the inconvenience to the users, that cars should go on for almost eight years, irrespective of mileage? I do not think that it is necessarily economic.

Mr. Loughlin

There is nothing rigid about it. The hon. Gentleman will recognise that one car can be on the road for three years and in terms of mileage do twice as much as a car that is on the road for six years. Normally we expect eight years. If the hon. Gentleman has any particular problem and writes to me, I will certainly do what I can about it.

19. Dr. Miller

asked the Minister of Health if he will now seek to supply suitably adapted production motor cars instead of the present invalid vehicles to the disabled who qualify.

25. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Minister of Health who qualify for the Ministry"s two-seater car; and if he will make a statement about the future issue of invalid cars.

51. Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Health when he will complete his investigations into the question of the provision of vehicles for disabled persons; and whether he will now provide cars for those at present using Ministry tricycles.

61. Mr. Heffer

asked the Minister of Health when he expects that the extensions announced last July will have been fully implemented; and how soon after that he will announce his new policy on the question of vehicles for disabled drivers.

Mr. K. Robinson

Four-seater motor cars are supplied to certain severely disabled war pensioners and to married couples where both partners are eligible for invalid tricycles or where one is eligible and the other is blind. I have no proposals at present for extending the supply of motor cars but I have undertaken to review the whole question of the provision of transport for the disabled when the recent improvements have been fully implemented. This will be in about a year"s time; I cannot forecast how long the review will take.

Dr. Miller

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that his undertaking to review the whole position will be welcomed and very well received by those who may benefit? Is he also aware that many of these vehicles which are at present supplied are rather dangerous as well as unattractive? Will he push his review as quickly as possible?

Mr. Robinson

I am grateful for the first part of my hon. Friend"s supplementary question, but I really cannot accept the latter part in which he suggested that invalid tricycles are dangerous. They have been specially designed for the disabled driver and, if reasonably well driven and maintained, they are reliable machines.

Mr. Spriggs

Will my right hon. Friend consider the promise made by the previous Administration some years ago that they were prepared to consider the case which I put to my right hon. Friend, and about which they did nothing? Will my right hon. Friend at least give a firm undertaking that something will be done in the period to which he has referred today?

Mr. Robinson

I have only undertaken to review the whole position of transport for the disabled. There is no doubt that the provision of motorcars in place of tricycles would involve a very considerable additional call on the resources available for the National Health Service as a whole, and we will have to balance this against other claims on those resources.

Lord Balniel

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of us find this answer rather disappointing? In this review, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the desirability of providing two-seater vehicles for mothers who are crippled where there is no father in the family? Unless such vehicles are made available, it means that the child can never go out with his parent. Not only is this incredibly sad, but it impedes the mental development of the child. Will the right hon. Genleman bear this in mind in his review?

Mr. Robinson

I will certainly bear it in mind but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, it has been considered many times by the previous Government. The provision of passenger-carrying vehicles under the National Health Service would in any event require legislation.

47. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Minister of Health what progress he has made in the choice of a two-seater invalid car, and if he will have a look at the maintenance arrangements generally, and in particular, those obtaining in the constituency of the honourable Member for St. Helens.

Mr. Loughlin

On the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend"s reply on 15th February, to the right hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. Thorneycroft). My right hon. Friend has looked at the maintenance arrangements in St. Helens and elsewhere and these appear to be working satisfactorily.

Mr. Spriggs

When looking at the proposed new models for invalids, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that a heater should be installed because of the special conditions arising from the health of these people? Will he also take into consideration my opinion about whether proper service is being given in St. Helens to those invalid carriages which need maintaining?

Mr. Loughlin

If I may deal with the last part of the supplementary question first, about 50 patients have powered tricycles in the St. Helen"s area and are catered for by approved repairers at Liverpool, Warrington, Southport and Birkenhead. We have had no complaints at all from the locality about the failure of the service. With regard to heaters, my hon. Friend will be very pleased to know that we have just approved a type of heater for these vehicles, and we hope to get them installed very quickly.

Mr. Molloy

In regard to the provision of cars for invalids, will my hon. Friend be prepared to examine the possibility of allowing people who qualify for an invalid carriage to use for this purpose the garage which they formerly used with their tricycle?

Mr. Speaker

We have had a look at the provision of cars, but this question is confined to maintenance, with perhaps a heater added. This is rather different.