§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Minister of Health what is the average cost of a motorised invalid tricycle, the estimated life and mileage of such a vehicle and the average servicing cost and maintenance charges borne by his Department.
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§ Mr. K. RobinsonMotorised invalid tricycles are bought under contract and it would therefore be contrary to normal practice to disclose prices. The normal life of a motorised invalid tricycle properly maintained and used is about six years. Comprehensive mileage statistics are not available but tricycles used daily by those in employment frequently cover about 5,000 miles per year. Information is not available about the cost of servicing and maintenance alone; the average cost in 1967–68 of modifying, reconditioning, making good accident damage and servicing and maintenance was£76.
§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Minister of Health what estimate he has made of the cost of adapting small cars for use-by invalids; and what is the estimated life and mileage of such a car when driven by an invalid and the average cost of maintenance and servicing.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe costs of adaptation are covered by contracts and it would be contrary to normal practice to reveal them. The cars are expected to have a life of about seven years. Comprehensive mileage statistics are not available but annual mileages of the order of 7,000 are not unusual. The persons to whom the cars are issued receive an allowance to cover maintenance, servicing, garaging and other items and separate figures for the first two are not therefore available.