HC Deb 02 May 1966 vol 727 cc1219-21
23. Mr. Ness Edwards

asked the Minister of Health if he has concluded his inquiries into the provision of two-seater cars to victims of industrial accidents and persons suffering from paraplegia; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Loughlin

My right hon. Friend hopes to have completed his review of the provisions of vehicles for the disabled before the end of the year.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Is not my hon. Friend aware that he promised us this last year? Is he not further aware that miners are having their conferences in the next few months and they will be anxious to hear what report he is going to make about this situation, as it is causing a great deal of apprehension in the valleys and is deterring recruitment to the mines?

Mr. Loughlin

I do not think there is any question of making promises last year about this year. We have always made it clear that it would be about two years before this review could be undertaken in the light of the effects of the improvements that were initiated in 1964. I want to make it clear that we have not made any promise that there will be an extension in the provisions in relation to victims of industrial accidents.

Mr. Ness Edwards

On a point of order. My hon. Friend should at least look at the correspondence in the Department. We were promised——

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is not a point of order.

Mr. Braine

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that 20 years after the war it is increasingly difficult to defend a situation where preference is given to those whose locomotor disability arose from war service rather than from industrial accidents? Would he not agree that it is difficult to defend a situation in which a distinction is made between a locomotor disability and some other form of disability affecting mobilty. [Interruption.] I am entirely on the side of the right hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards.) Will the hon. Gentleman look into this again?

Mr. Loughlin

I am rather surprised that the hon. Gentleman should suggest that we should depart from the traditional policy to which both sides of the House have subscribed, that there should be preferential treatment for war service pensioners. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are examining this matter in its entirety. We want to get it through as soon as we possibly can, and we shall.