§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision there was for inspection of repairs at the artificial limb fitting centre at Roehampton before the recent strike; what provision there is now; what change there has been in the number of inspectors; if he will ascertain from the companies supplying artificial limbs if there has been any increase in complaints; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThe strike to which the right hon. Member refers was settled in May last year. It did not, as the right hon. Member's question may imply, take place at the Roehampton artificial limb fitting centre, but at the nearby factory of J. E. Hanger and Co. Ltd., one of the manufacturers of artificial limbs.
As the right hon. Member will be aware, from 1 July 1987 the Disablement Services Authority has taken over full responsibility for the artificial limb service, and for dealing with the suppliers of artificial limbs. I understand that the Disablement Services Authority is strengthening controls on the quality and cost of contractors' work.