HC Deb 26 June 1979 vol 969 cc263-5
3. Mr. Colin Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Royal Commission on the National Health Service is expected to report.

The Secretary of State for Social Services (Mr. Patrick Jenkin)

I understand that the Royal Commission expects to report next month.

Mr. Shepherd

Will my right hon. Friend await the report of the Royal Commission before turning his attention to the future of Motability? Does he recognise the importance of the role of this organisation to the disabled, and is he aware that it may not now be able to fulfil its avowed function?

Mr. Jenkin

I am aware of that concern. I am happy to be able to announce that my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be laying an order as soon as possible which will relieve Motability of the effect of the Value Added Tax (Cars) Order 1977. While the regular leasing charges paid by Motability clients will still bear VAT, the organisation will now be able to recover all the input tax paid on cars. This concession, along with the £2 increase in mobility allowance, will allow Motability to operate on better terms than those which obtained before the Budget.

Mr. William Hamilton

While he is waiting for the Royal Commission report, will the right hon. Gentleman examine the representations which are currently being made by health visitors, midwives and other community nurses? Is it not clear to the right hon. Gentleman that the car and mileage allowances for such nurses are completely out of line with current rates of inflation? Will he urgently examine the position?

Mr. Jenkin

This is not a matter on which I expect the Royal Commission to say a great deal, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of State has been examining the matter. The tax treatment of car allowances is being applied in exactly the same way as it applies to other taxpayers.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Before the Royal Commission reports, will my right hon. Friend give weighty consideration to the opposition within the country to the establishment of mixed wards within the National Health Service? Is he aware that there is an increasing number of people, particularly those patients who seek to enter hospital for urgent treatment, strongly opposed to the trend which is developing within the NHS of establishing mixed wards? I accept that there is need for this practice in intensive care units, but will he ensure that this trend does not develop any further?

Mr. Jenkin

I am well aware of the widespread concern expressed about the growth of mixed wards. My Department is currently studying the subject to see how best to resolve the problem.

Mr. Orme

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we shall closely examine the proposed statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of Motability? No doubt we shall return to the matter when we consider the Finance Bill.

If the report of the Royal Commission is published next month, when the House is in recess, will the report be made available outside the House? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great interest in the report, and that we believe that immediately the report is laid there should be public debate as well as a debate in this House?

Mr. Jenkin

I accept that there will be great interest in the Royal Commission's report. It has received an enormous volume of evidence and has been studying the subject for over two and a half years. I hope that the report will be presented before the House rises. If that happens, I expect to make a statement to the House on how we should handle the matter. I can confidently promise the right hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme) that there will be a full debate on its recommendations.