§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of the present annual allowance paid to users of invalid tricycles supplied by his Department to offset the tax on petrol; and when it was last fixed.
§ Mr. Alison£5; 1964.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to provide an immediate increase in the allowance paid to users of invalid tricycles supplied by his Department to offset the tax on petrol, in view of the rise in the tax since the rate was last fixed.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view 185W of the additional costs falling upon them since the allowance paid to users of invalid tricycles was fixed, whether he will now increase this allowance.
§ Mr. AlisonAny changes in the conditions for supply of vehicles to severely disabled people must await the outcome of the review which is approaching completion.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give immediate consideration to assisting disabled persons to purchase their own cars rather than using invalid tricycles by granting a maintenance allowance comparable to that provided to service pensioners and National Health Service patients who are eligible for cars, but who choose to buy their own vehicles.
§ Mr. AlisonThe possibility of paying a maintenance allowance to disabled persons eligible for invalid three-wheelers from the Department but who prefer instead to use their own cars is one of the many suggestions being considered in the current review of the vehicle service which we hope to conclude by the autumn.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has read the policy statement by the Disabled Drivers' Association calling for a more flexible scheme of mobility assistance, a copy of which is in his possession; and if he will now provide suitably adapted small cars for disabled mothers with children under 15 years of age.
§ Mr. AlisonThe current review of the vehicle service will have full regard to the views expressed by all responsible interested persons and bodies, including the Disabled Drivers' Association. Any changes in the arrangements must await completion of this review.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for providing adapted cars for disabled mothers with young children.
§ Mr. Weitzmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will adopt some scheme which will assist in the provision of adapted cars for disabled mothers with young children.
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§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take in the light of the proposals made by the Disabled Drivers' Association, a copy of which is in his possession, in particular in regard to a more flexible scheme of mobility assistance, and for the provision of small cars for disabled mothers with young children.
§ Mr. AlisonAny proposals for changes in the invalid vehicle service depend upon completion of the current review of the service.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to make inter-departmental arrangements whereby two-seater instruction invalid tricycles are available at repairers approved by his Department.
§ Mr. AlisonNo. There are over 50 basic variants in the layout of controls of the three-wheelers to suit individual needs and the proposal in the Question would require a large fleet of instructional vehicles of limited benefit. Moreover the learner would be using a machine with controls rearranged because of the change in the position of the seat. The automatic three-wheeler now being introduced is much simpler to drive than the old models.