§ 56 and 57. Mrs. Kellett-Bowmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many of the 1,770 disabled persons who have been supplied with powered indoor chairs in England will be able to use the electrically-powered wheelchairs, attendant controlled, which were on issue to 107 National Health Service patients and war pensioners at 31st December, 1970;
(2) if, since according to the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report for 1970, there were 107 outdoor powered chairs, 122W attendant controlled, issued to National Health Service patients and war pensioners in England in December, 1970, he will now make these more widely available, thus increasing the mobility of the disabled.
§ Mr. AlisonAbout 300 attendant-controlled outdoor powered chairs have now been issued, some of them to holders of indoor powered chairs. Production difficulties, now being overcome, have recently delayed issues but the intention is to provide them promptly to patients who have to be pushed by a regular attendant who is physically unable to do so without power assistance, having regard to the weight of the patient and the local terrain. I will willingly look into any case which is causing difficulty.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people have applied for exemption under Section 7(c) of the Finance Act, 1971; and how many have been granted exemption.
§ Mr. AlisonRecords are not kept of applications for certificates relating to the medical requirements. I am not involved in the non-medical aspects also governing qualification or in the issue of licences, and have no information about numbers ultimately exempted by the licensing authorities.