§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the results are of the evaluation by his 389W Department of the Renault 4L as a suitable car for disabled drivers.
§ Mr. AlisonThe Renault 4 has, uniquely in its class, a number of characteristics that are advantageous to the disabled. Exploratory trials and subsequent experience in service have shown that it is generally suitable for those eligible disabled people who are unable to manage a Mini and for whom a reconditioned Minor 1000 is either not available or not suitable.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the countries in which the engine, torque convertor, and the suspension and transmission parts for the P70 invalid tricycle, issued under the National Health Service, are purchased.
§ Mr. AlisonThe engines are purchased from Austria. The transmission unit, which includes the torque converter, is made from parts purchased from America and Italy as well as some purchased in the United Kingdom. The rear suspension assemblies also include some parts purchased from Italy as well as some purchased in the United Kingdom. The design of the vehicle called for the use of components not available from a United Kingdom source.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the small four-wheeled continental or other foreign motor cars which have been evaluated for use by eligible disabled drivers, other than the Renault 4L.
§ Mr. AlisonMy Department has carried out limited user trials of the DAF 33. Other foreign cars that have been appraised include the Volkswagen, Fiat 500, 600 and 850; Opel Kadett, Skoda 100 and Citroen Dyane, none of which offers the advantages of the R4 for a disabled driver.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total number of adapted four-wheeled cars on issue by his Department to disabled war pensioners and eligible groups of National Health Service patients, listing the total numbers of Minor 1000s, Mini Travellers, Mini automatic saloons, standard Mini saloons, and other makes and models, respectively.
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§ Mr. AlisonThe total numbers of cars provided by my Department on issue in England and Wales are as follows:
Mini Saloon 4,325 Mini Automatic 910 Mini Estate 76 Mini Estate with automatic transmission 65 Minor 1000 2,394 Minor 1000 Traveller 134 Ford Anglia (supplied before 1968) 46 Viva (supplied before October 1970) 73 R4 27 About two-thirds of the cars issued have adapted controls.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total number of disabled war pensioners, with disabled drivers and disabled passengers shown separately, who have been unable to have a car provided by his Department because an adapted Mini Minor had proved unsuitable for their requirements for the year 1971 and 1972, respectively.
§ Mr. AlisonRecords are not kept to show those cases where a motor car within our range is unsuitable but in nearly all instances eligible war pensioners are able to manage, with a nominated driver if necessary, in the available alternatives to a Mini-Minor, namely, a reconditioned Minor 1000 or R4.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average annual cost per head involved in the issue to the disabled of motorised invalid tricycles, including insurance, maintenance, petrol allowance, garaging, spares and capital value.
§ Mr. AlisonAbout £225 in the 1972-73 financial year including the cost of servicing, repairs, modifications, reconditioning, insurance, making good accident damage, petrol allowance, carriage and driving tuition, maintaining a fleet of some 2,000 reserve vehicles and the capital cost of new vehicles supplied as first issues or replacements during the year.
Mr. AlfredMorris asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total number of electrically-propelled invalid tricycles on issue to National Health Service patients by his Department in England and Wales; and if he 391W will estimate how many of these patients would be able to drive the P70 invalid tricycle.
§ Mr. AlisonIn England and Wales there are about 1,850 electrically propelled three-wheelers provided by my Department on issue to eligible disabled people for whom this particular type of vehicle with its restricted speed and simplicity of control has been medically recommended. A few drive this type of vehicle by choice but most by necessity and each individual would have to be medically reassessed in order to determine his ability to control a model 70 safely.