§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if consultants may prescribe powered outdoor wheelchairs if, in their clinical judgment, these are essential for individual patients; if such wheelchairs may be issued under the National Health Service without loss of mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeAn electrically powered outdoor wheelchair may be supplied by the Department to a disabled person who needs to be pushed in a wheelchair out of doors and whose normal attendant is unable to do so because of age, infirmity, the excessive weight of the disabled person, or because the locality in which he lives is hilly. A recommendation for this type of wheelchair may be made by any NHS doctor. The issue of a wheelchair, whether powered or non-powered, by the Department does not affect entitlement to mobility allowance.