HC Deb 05 December 1966 vol 737 cc918-21
13. Mr. Brooks

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the light of his review of the problem, he will now agree to provide suitably converted cars for disabled drivers instead of the single-seater vehicles at present provided.

16. Mr. Fortescue

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive and act upon the promised report on invalid vehicles.

26. Mr. Robert Davies

asked the Minister of Health when a report will be made on the feasibility of providing suitably adapted small cars for the use of disabled persons and their families.

28. Mrs. Knight

asked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his review of the regulations governing the circumstances in which his Department bears the cost of converting vehicles to hand-controls for war-disabled pensioners; and whether he will make a statement.

49. Mr. Dean

asked the Minister of Health whether the current review of vehicles for the disabled will include financial help for people who have their own cars adapted or who buy cars which are already suitably adapted.

67. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to provide disabled drivers with two-seater vehicles or an alternative cash allowance, equal to the cost of maintaining single-seater tricycles, to offset the cost of maintaining their own cars.

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

My right hon. Friend is studying the results of the review and hopes to make a statement to the House early in the New Year.

Mr. Brooks

I thank my hon. Friend for that indication that further thought is being given to this matter. Is he aware that the House was given to understand in the summer that the results of this review would be made available during the earlier part of the winter? Is it not a matter on which neither procrastination nor parsimony should be allowed to stand in the way of the happiness of the disabled?

Mr. Loughlin

I must correct my hon. Friend on one point, which is that I have constantly said in the House that I hoped to have this review available before the end of the year.

Mr. Davies

Is my hon. Friend aware that the provision of suitably adapted small cars would enable disabled people to live more normal family lives?

Mr. Loughlin

Without wishing to be presumptuous, I do not believe that anyone is more aware than I am of the problems and benefits that might accrue from this review. All the problems concerning this issue will be taken into account in the review.

Mrs. Knight

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that I entirely agree with the hon. Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) and that a promise was made to me last summer, four months ago, that a review would shortly be forthcoming, that this was said eight months after I had first raised this matter, and that for 12 months previously my predecessor had been raising it? Since this is a straightforward matter of fairness to disabled ex-Service men, does he not agree that it is time that his Department got a move on?

Mr. Loughlin

The last thing I want to do is to get involved in a political discussion on this subject. I have repeatedly said time and again from this Box this year that I hoped to get the review through by the end of the year.

Mr. Dean

Referring to Question No. 49, can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the anomalies which appear to exist in the case of those who buy vehicles which have automatic transmission and appear to get a smaller grant will be dealt with in the review?

Mr. Loughlin

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend will take into account all these matters. But apart from this review, if the hon. Gentleman has a particular case and will let me have the details, I shall be glad to look at them for him.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that the problems of alternative grants as well as second seats in these vehicles are being included in this inquiry? He will surely be aware that we are all conscious of the problem and difficulties, but we do not accept that these difficulties can any longer stand in the way of the provision of these things?

Mr. Loughlin

I am not too sure precisely what the hon. Gentleman means by alternative grants, but I can assure him that what has been discussed in question and answer in this House and all other related matters will be considered in this review.

Sir R. Cary

I am aware of the very large sum of money involved and also of the concern which is always shown by the hon. Gentleman about this matter, but I think that the provision of a substantial amount of money on motor cars for the disabled——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member must know he must ask a question.

Sir R. Cary

I beg your pardon, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Loughlin

I think I understand the hon. Member's question, although it was not posed in the form of a question. He referred to the substantial amount of money involved, and I would ask the House to recognise that the question of the additional amount of money which can be allocated will have to be considered in the light of all the other priorities with which my Department is concerned.