§ 19. Mr. Woodhouseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish the Motor Industry Research Association's report on the P70 invalid tricycle in conjunction with Baroness Sharp's report on mobility for the disabled.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend yesterday.—[Vol. 871, c. 30–32.] Mr. Woodhouse: May I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his decision that this report should be published and ask him whether he is aware that until the date of publication very great anxiety had been felt by many disabled drivers about the possible contents of the report? Their anxieties will hardly be allayed by the report of the test of 17th August of last year relating to impact and fire risks of the P70 model or by the publication of the very abbreviated report on the effect of side wind.
Mr. MorrisI am deeply aware of the anxieties to which the hon. Gentleman refers. These will be taken fully into account in the course of our consultation on Lady Sharp's report.
I welcome this opportunity to inform the House of a statement made by the director of MIRA, Mr. R. H. Macmillan, to my right hon. Friend. Mr. Macmillan said:
I confirm that I am agreeable to the publication of the three parts of the report which concern the impact tests. As regards the fourth section, which concerns the cross wind effects, I cannot agree to publication because to do so would breach confidence, as other makes of vehicles were involved in the testsMr. Macmillan then suggested a synopsis which my right hon. Friend announced to the House yesterday.