§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the powered wheel chairs voucher scheme and the level of take-up in each year of its operation since 1996; [107516]
(2) if he will make it his policy to extend the ring fencing of funding for the powered chairs voucher scheme for a further year; [107514]
(3) when he will announce his conclusions in respect of the report by the York Health Economics Unit, Evaluation of the Voucher and Outdoor Wheelchair Scheme. [107517]
§ Mr. HuttonThe York Health Economics Consortium prepared an evaluation study of the implementation and operation of the National Health Service powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair scheme and the wheelchair voucher scheme. When I have completed my consideration of the recommendations contained in their report I shall announce my conclusions about the future of the two schemes.
1,158 powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs were issued in 1996–97, 4,581 in 1997–98 and 4,033 in 1998–99. Data for the wheelchair voucher scheme are only held from 1997–98. 660 vouchers were issued in 1997–98 and 5,010 were issued in 1998–99.