HC Deb 22 February 1972 vol 831 cc1085-6
12. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute a departmental study on methods of rationalising and expanding the development and manufacture of specialised electro-mechanical equipment for registered disabled persons, and the financing of such equipment.

Mr. Alison

There is a continuous study of ways of rationalising and expanding the development and manufacture of equipment of all kinds needed in the National Health Service.

Mr. Dykes

I appreciate my hon. Friend's answer and the difficulty. However, could we not have a more positive answer? Because of the relatively early stage of development of this machinery, its high cost and general lack of availability in large numbers, many disabled people are being deprived of what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said was equipment to make their conditions as normal as possible. Will the Department look at this matter more energetically?

Mr. Alison

My right hon. Friend has set up a small fact-finding group to examine questions relating to the provision of equipment for disabled people generally. We hope to have their report before too long.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Will the hon. Gentleman take it from me that we are grateful not to him but to the whole House, for the efforts which have been made to get equipment like this for the disabled? Is he aware that the numbers have quadrupled in recent times? Will he also take it from me that we may get bogus manufacturers trying to produce equipment without safety factors? Will he therefore make sure that his Department at all times insists that there shall be reserve powers available so that the severely disabled do not lose confidence and can be protected for at least 24 hours in the event of failure?

Mr. Alison

I noted very carefully what the hon. Gentleman said. This matter appropriately falls within the ambit of the study group which has been set up in my Department.

Mr. Alfred Morris

If we can afford to spend another £66 million a year on research and development for military purposes, as suggested in the current White Paper on Defence, why can we not spend more on research and development for severely disabled people?

Mr. Alison

The £66 million to which the hon. Member refers is, nevertheless, exceeded by very many headings of the expenditure we make on vital areas of the National Health Service.

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