HC Deb 02 December 1968 vol 774 cc1008-9
6. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what fresh proposals he has for issuing four-wheeled vehicles to disabled drivers.

The Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Mr. Julian Snow)

My right hon. Friend is unable at present to extend further the classes of patients eligible for cars.

Mr. Marten

Would the Minister consider issuing a priority list of those who will be issued with four-wheelers from the moment resources become available? In the meantime, would he bear in mind the burden on disabled drivers and consider seriously increasing the allowance for petrol, as petrol has risen 9d. in nine months while disabled drivers have received no help towards that at all?

Mr. Snow

I think that that second question is a rather different issue, but if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question on it I will seriously consider it. As to the first point, the hon. Gentleman will understand how very anxious we are to restrain public expenditure, and I know he will do his part to help us in this matter.

Mr. Maurice Macmillan

Has the hon. Gentleman considered the point put forward by the joint committee on the mobility of the disabled, namely, that in the long term public expenditure would be saved by using Ministerial resources to adapt mass production cars for the disabled rather than on producing vehicles especially for them?

Mr. Snow

Yes, that matter is being considered very closely by my Department. It is not a new suggestion, but what we have to protect is the interests of as many disabled people as possible who demand and require personal mobility.

7. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost in the last convenient period of 12 months of maintaining his Department's three-wheeled disabled drivers' vehicles.

Mr. Snow

About £1½ million.

Mr. Marten

If the Minister pressed for the production of the new prototype P5 and also issued a few more four-wheeled vehicles, would not the great cost of maintenance come down?

Mr. Snow

The average annual maintenance grant paid to recipients of cars is £80 compared with a not strictly comparable figure of £76 for three-wheeled vehicles. I myself think that the production of the P5, which, I think, is the vehicle the hon. Gentleman has in mind, is going on very satisfactorily. It is largely a technical problem at the moment.