§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement concerning the extension of the definition of ambulance as used by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea to include special vehicles used to convey disabled people for purposes other than conveyance to and from hospitals and treatment centres.
§ Mr. HoramThe following new definition is on the point of being introduced
An ambulance is: (a) a vehicle which is specifically constructed or adapted and outwardly identifiable as a vehicle for the carriage of sick, injured or disabled persons and used for their conveyance to and from hospitals and other medical or welfare centres. (In the context of disabled persons a welfare centre 325W means an establishment for the welfare of disabled persons. Entitlement to exemption would not be lost if an ambulance was also used by an organisation catering for the welfare of the disabled to take disabled persons on social visits.)(b) A vehicle which is outwardly identifiable as an ambulance and is used solely to convey sick or injured birds or animals to and from veterinary or similar treatment centres".The definition has thus been broadened to include appropriate vehicles which are used regularly—say, at least once a week—for medical or welfare purposes even when the carrying of disabled persons for social purposes is the major use.