§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled persons are still using an invalid tricycle at the last available date; how long those already using an invalid tricycle will be 55W able to continue to be entitled to one; why persons now using an invalid tricycle are not able to opt for either the mobility allowance, or the continuing use of an invalid tricycle; what efforts are being made to produce a better and more reliable invalid tricycle for the disabled; and how long the spare parts for invalid tricycles at present in use will continue.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:At 31st October there were some 15,000 disabled people in England using three-wheelers supplied by my Department. Of these some 14,000 were former vehicle scheme beneficiaries and about 1,000 chose the three-wheeler under the mobility allowance arrangements.
Former vehicle scheme beneficiaries who wish to retain their three-wheelers will be able to have them maintained and, if necessary, replaced at least for another four or five years provided they continue to satisfy the eligibility conditions. Many vehicles will, of course, be capable of lasting for several years beyond then. We are continuing to purchase the necessary spare parts and do not anticipate any insuperable difficulty in obtaining sufficient stocks to cover the phasing-out period. My right hon. Friend and I have made it very clear that we shall not allow people with three-wheelers provided under the pre-1976 arrangements to become immobilised as a consequence of the phasing-out of these vehicles, except where increased disability makes this inevitable. Moreover, the position of drivers who chose a three-wheeler under the mobility allowance arrangements is kept under review and availability of vehicles is assured for the time being.
The reasons why the three-wheeler cannot remain a permanent option were explained by my right hon. Friend in his statement of 23 July 1976.—[Vol. 915, c. 2230.]
We have commissioned the Motor Industry Research Association to undertake a study of available adaptations to ordinary motor cars and of the potential value of further adaptations or specialised vehicles which are available or under development both at home and abroad. We are also in touch with the EEC Commission to explore the possibilities of cooperation between member States. In all this we have very much in mind our 56W commitment to former vehicle scheme beneficiaries who continue to use a three-wheeler so long as stocks are available. At the same time we are particularly conscious of the need to encourage developments which could lead to a better choice of specialised vehicles or adaptations to production cars becoming commercially available to disabled people generally.