§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many home helps are employed in England and Wales; what are the numbers employed per 100,000 population; and how many are employed in the borough of Hartlepool.
§ Mr. AlisonThe figures for England and Wales and for the county borough of Hartlepool are as follows:
course of her inquiry, together with the organisations and firms they represented.
§ Mr. AlisonThe usual practice would be for a report of this kind to indicate the nature and sources of evidence and I imagine Lady Sharp will have this in mind.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask the inquiry by Baroness Sharp to take into account safety factors relevant to existing invalid tricycles and their suitability for modern traffic conditions
§ Mr. AlisonI am sure my right hon Friend does not need to do so.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now ensure that all four-wheeled vehicles supplied by his Department will in future 283W be replaced with similar vehicles with automatic transmission.
§ Mr. AlisonNo.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of accidents for the years 1970, 1971, and 1972, respectively, in which invalid tricycles were blown over, knocked over, or turned over, listing the numbers for each category, and make and models involved;
(2) if he will list the number of accidents for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, in which invalid tricycle drivers were killed, seriously injured or received major injuries, listing the numbers for each category, and make and model;
(3) if he will list the numbers of invalid tricycles (Model 70) on issue for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, which were involved in accidents which resulted in the leakage of petrol from the frontally located petrol tank, listing the make involved;
(4) if he will list the numbers of invalid tricycles which have caught fire for any reason for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, specifying whether any of these have involved petrol exploding, and listing the makes and models involved;
(5) if he will list the numbers of invalid tricycles which have been involved in accidents as a result of the tiller bar or steering mechanism being wrenched from the driver's hand as a result of hitting a pothole or other dent in the road, listing the makes and models involved for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively.
(6) if he will list the numbers of invalid tricycles which have been involved in accidents for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, as a result of the driver's wheelchair catching on the tiller bar or steering mechanism, listing the makes and models involved;
(7) if he will list the numbers of invalid tricycles which have been involved in accidents for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, as a result of the throttle cable jamming or breaking, listing the makes and models involved.
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§ Mr. AlisonThe cost of extracting this information would be disproportionate to its value.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations his Department had in designing the P70 invalid tricycle with automobile engineers and designers with responsibility for safety standards from the major motor manufacturers prior to the introduction of this model.
§ Mr. AlisonAll aspects of its suitability for its special purpose, to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of disabled people, and necessarily including safety, were taken into account when briefing the commercial designers, who have long experience of designing and developing specialist road vehicles, particularly for the disabled.