§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the competition between the British companies which manufacture artificial limbs;
(2) how many British firms supply artificial limbs to amputees in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. NewtonSeven British firms supply artificial limbs in the United Kingdom. The Department is currently consulting the industry about a number of matters including contractual arrangements.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what complaints he has recently received about the artificial limb and appliance centre services; and what response he has made.
§ Mr. NewtonTwenty three specific complaints have been received by Ministers since 1 January and answered individually. No central record is kept of complaints made660W direct to centres. The figure does not include some 50 written responses to our invitation to comment on the McColl report or other suggestions for the development of the services.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people who have attended the artificial limb and appliance centres in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. NewtonThe following figures refer to patient attendances at artificial limb and appliance centres in England:
Year Attendances 1981 183,840 1982 191,820 1983 195,800 1984 192,650 1985 189,730 Note: The centres supply wheelchairs to many people without the necessity of personal attendance.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to make a statement in response of the McColl report on artificial limbs and appliance centre services.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) on Monday 16 June at column460.