§ 13. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many invalid tricyles are on issue from his Department to disabled people; and what is the estimated average cost to his Department.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAt 31st January 1977 there were some 19,000 invalid three-wheelers on issue in England and Wales. Expenditure on new vehicles, reconditioned vehicles for reissue, repairs and maintenance including the reserve fleet, insurance, carriage, driving instruction and petrol tax allowance expressed as a cost per vehicle on issue for the last complete financial year, 1975–76, was £363.
§ 19. Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on progress made in finding a suitable alternative to the invalid tricycle.
§ 57. Mr. Robert Rhodes Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent research has been carried out to find a suitable alternative vehicle to the three-wheeler.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisMy right hon. Friend had made it clear to drivers of tricycles issued under the pre–1976 vehicle scheme that we expect to be able to replace their tricycles, as they wear out, at least up to 1981. He has also confirmed that, as phasing out proceeds and the0020pattern of need becomes clearer, we shall be looking on home and world markets to help drivers who will still need a specialised vehicle when their tricycles can no longer be replaced. We are interested in all development projects which could lead to a better choice of specialised vehicles, or specialised adaptations to production cars, becoming commercially available to disabled people. My Department and the Department of Transport are jointly considering what further research is desirable in order to identify, among the possible lines of development, those which have the best prospects of effectively meeting the needs of disabled people.
§ 41. Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what 467W provisions his Department is making for meeting the demand for spare parts in the repair of mechanical faults on the Invacar.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs) on 21st February.—[Vol. 926, c.433–4]—I have written to the hon. Member about the individual case he raised with me.