§ Mr. Douglas Henderson (Aberdeenshire, East)I beg to submit a petition, Mr. Deputy Speaker, signed by 2,205 of my constituents and submitted in the name of Miss June Finnie of 6, Union Grove, Fraserburgh. Miss Finnie is disabled and has gone to considerable trouble in arranging to collect these signatures. Their significance will become apparent when I mention the purpose of the petition.
That purpose is to draw the attention of the Secretary of State for Social Services to the policy on mobility allowance for the disabled. The petitioners are greatly concerned that the present policy
removes the assurance of continued independent mobility from those severely disabled persons now driving invalid tricycles, and condemns many new applicants for mobility assistance to be housebound as a result of the inadequate level of the mobility allowance.The petitioners therefore call upon the Secretary of State to promote policies which will carry out the following purposes: first, to guarantee immediatelythe right of continued independent mobility to current invalid tricycle drivers when the supply of tricycles is exhausted;Second, to restore immediatelythe option of a suitably adapted car or invalid tricycle to new applicants for mobility assistance under the powers granted to the Secretary of State.Thirdly, it urges him actively topromote projects to design and produce specialised vehicles which will enable an increasing number of severely disabled people to enjoy independent mobility.Further, the petitioners pray that the House shalltake all the necessary steps to promote a total policy on mobility which will ensure that choice is available to the severely disabled between a mobility allowance set at a level which will enable purchase and maintenance of appliances that they need and the issue of a specialised vehicle.The petition concludes in the customary way with the wordsAnd your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.