HC Deb 09 November 1971 vol 825 cc802-4
2. Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make available, under the National Health Service, outdoor, electrically-operated, patient-controiled wheelchairs.

45. Sir G. Sinclair

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy with regard to the exercise of the provision in the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, which permits him to authorise the use of powerdrive chairs outside home and school grounds.

46. Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ascertain the number of people who are unable to benefit from the provisions of Section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and when he expects to have a powered wheelchair available which complies with the provisions of that Section.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Michael Alison)

There is no powered wheelchair which complies with the statutory requirements about weight and performance and is suitable for general outdoor use with safety. I am unable to say either when such a vehicle is likely to be available or how many people might benefit from Section 20 if it were.

Mr. Farr

Will my hon. Friend now instigate inquiries in his Department with a view to obtaining such a vehicle and laying down the necessary specifications as many of these unfortunate people are virtually prisoners in their own homes?

Mr. Alison

My hon. Friend will be aware that the almost insuperable difficulty associated with the provision and, indeed, design of such a vehicle is the need to ride over kerbs of pavements which present such difficulties as to make even the experiment which he seeks beyond the resources which we have at our disposal.

Mr. Leadbitter

Will the Under-Secretary indicate precisely—if not now, at some future date—the nature of the research work which is going on to meet the provision of Section 20 and the extent of the positive application of the Section to find out the number of people who might benefit if research work in this sphere were successful?

Mr. Alison

The hon. Gentleman knows that the primary object of Section 20 was to facilitate or legalise the use on pavements of certain electrically-powered children's toy cars which cannot lift over pavements. We have done enough research to know that development of adult vehicles capable of lifting over kerbs would not be feasible.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that all the disabled people's organisations are deeply concerned that we shall not see the full and humane implementation of Section 20 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, until we provide a powered wheelchair which can be used outside the home? Is he aware that many grievously disabled children, including thalidomide children, cannot move out of their homes until this provision is made?

Mr. Alison

We all know the hon. Gentleman's great concern for children and adults in this situation, but I am sure he knows that we are presented with a problem in which safety is of pre-eminent importance, and the hazards associated with vehicles which might not be able safely to negotiate pavement kerbs is one of the limitations that we have to face.