§ 4. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now able to make a statement on his investigations into the practicability of producing a three-wheeled vehicle suitable for a disabled person and one passenger.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Michael Alison)I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 30th November.—[Vol. 827, c. 43.]
§ Mr. SpearingDoes the hon. Gentleman agree that that was yet another non-reply? He has been talking for some time about a review, for which we are all waiting, of the invalid vehicle scheme. Does he agree that he must first find out whether this kind of vehicle is mechanically possible and how much it would cost before bringing forth the conclusions in his review?
§ Mr. AlisonNo. It would be a mistake to incur costs in designing or investigating a vehicle before the eligibility for it has been determined.
§ Sir R. ThompsonHas my hon. Friend satisfied himself that one of the mass-produced small cars fitted with automatic gears—for instance, a mini—could not be fairly cheaply adapted to a wide range of disability? It would not only meet the point made by the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Spearing) but it would be vastly cheaper to service and to provide spares for it.
§ Mr. AlisonSmall cars are already issued by my Department to those who are eligible for them. The question whether there should be wider eligibility is precisely what we are considering.