§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which companies he has asked to estimate the cost of adapting four-wheeled passenger cars in current production for the use of persons presently qualified to receive invalid three-wheeled cars.
§ Mr. AlisonNo company has been asked because it is not the intention to issue four-wheeled vehicles generally. Unofficial discussions have indicated that the technical problems would be formidable and costly to solve if indeed they were soluble.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what factors he took into account in concluding that a four-wheeled vehicle suitable for the use of persons now qualified to receive invalid three-wheeled cars would have to be specially developed and designed at a very high cost.
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§ Mr. AlisonFactors that would have to be taken into account if a four-wheeled vehicle were to be developed to meet the requirements of those now qualified for invalid three-wheelers include height of floor and roof, size and disposition of doors, lightness of steering, large unimpeded interior floor-space, facility for insertion and carrying of a wheelchair beside the driver and ease of making modifications to suit the individual requirements of disabled people.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total expenditure in 1970 on the purchase of invalid three-wheel cars supplied by his Department.
§ Mr. Alison£1,325,000 for England and Wales.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many invalid three-wheel cars were purchased in 1970 by his Department.
§ Mr. Alison3,033 for England and Wales.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will arrange for a new model official invalid three-wheel car to be made available for testing by suitably qualified motoring journalists.
§ Mr. AlisonAll the available test models are being tested by severely disabled people of the widest possible range of disability in order to provide all the information required about the new vehicle. When these tests are complete I shall be glad to provide an opportunity for motoring journalists with an understanding of the special problems of the disabled to try the vehicle.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost to date, and the total estimated cost of development of the new model invalid three-wheel car now under development.
§ Mr. Alison£50,000 has been spent to date out of a total estimated cost of£60,000.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of fire, whether associated with a road traffic accident or not, involving invalid three-wheel cars have been notified to 237W his Department in each of the last five years to 1970.
§ Mr. Alison
Years Number 1966 … … … 11 1967 … … … 19 1968 … … … 9 1969 … … … 7 1970 … … … 9
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost to public funds of the maintenance of an invalid three-wheel car per annum.
§ Mr. AlisonThe average cost in 1970–71 of modifying, reconditioning, making good accident damage, servicing and maintenance was approximately£70. Separate figures for maintenance are not available.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many invalid three-wheel cars were provided in each of the last five years to 1970.
§ Mr. AlisonThe number of new and fully reconditioned three wheelers provided was as follows:
1966 … … … 4,683 1967 … … … 4,792 1968 … … … 4,944 1969 … … … 4,438 1970 … … … 4,049