§ 81. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Health the number of applications received from disabled persons by his Department for invalid motor tricycles since the scheme started; and how many have been granted.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI regret that this information is not obtainable without a disproportionate amount of work, but 13,285 power propelled tricycles are at present on issue in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Health the qualifying conditions for the grant of a two-seater small car by his Department to disabled persons, as compared with the conditions for the grant of a single-seater tricar.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithPatients may be eligible for power-propelled invalid tricycles, if, briefly, they have suffered amputation of both legs—at least one amputation above the knee—are suffering from such a defect of the locomotor system that they are to all intents and purposes unable to walk, or are similarly but slightly less severely disabled with very limited walking ability and need a machine to get to and from work. As I explained in my statement on 4th April I propose to provide small cars for those war pensioners disabled in the service of their country who are eligible for Government power-propelled tricycles.
§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Health the cost of the small car and the single-seater tricar, respectively, supplied by his Department to disabled persons.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt would be contrary to Government policy to disclose the prices at which Government contracts for these vehicles are awarded.
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§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Health how many single-seater tricars and two-seater small cars, respectively, have been supplied to disabled persons by the Welsh Board of Health in each of the last eight years.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI regret that information is not available in the form asked for, but the numbers of cars and powered propelled invalid tricycles, delivered through the appliance centres in Wales, which were on issue on the dates shown below as as follows:
— Cars Tricycles 31st March, 1952 66 325 31st March, 1953 70 369 31st March, 1954 67 432 31st March, 1955 69 447 31st March, 1956 66 448 31st March, 1956 68 490 31st March, 1956 70 516 31st March, 1956 65 542 31st March, 1956 67 546