§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what plans he has to make the standards of assessment and prescription of wheelchairs more consistent;
(2) what is his estimate of the number of disabled people using unsuitable or unsafe wheelchairs.
§ Mr. NewtonThe models of wheelchair issued by the Department meet standards of stability and durability and other safety requirements such as fire retardancy, and none is inherently unsafe. The suitability of a wheelchair for a particular individual is a matter of professional judgment. In reaching decisions about the recommendations of the McColl report I shall have in mind the scope for improving assessment and prescribing practices.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to introduce a low-cost, low-performance wheelchair into the range in the near future.
§ Mr. NewtonAn initial order has been placed for one new model of lower-cost pushchair for occasional users and arrangements are being made for its introduction and evaluation in use.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the back-up services for wheelchair users.
§ Mr. NewtonWe are actively exploring ways of improving these services in the light of the McColl report.