HC Deb 18 June 1974 vol 875 cc130-3W
Mrs. Colquhoun

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically-propelled invalid tricycles and four-wheeled cars or travellers, respectively, which were involved in accidents in which they overturned in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(2) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically, propelled invalid tricycles and four-wheeled cars, or travellers, respectively, which were involved in accidents in which they were involved in a collision with another vehicle, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(3) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically-propelled invalid tricycles and four-wheeled cars, or travellers, respectively, which either caught fire spontaneously or as a result of an accident, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

It is regretted that this information cannot be provided without disproportionate effort.

Mrs. Colquhoun

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission and four-wheeled cars or travellers, respectively, which were involved in accidents due to the throttle or accelerator jamming, or the cable breaking, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(2) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, which were involved in accidents in which the driver's wheelchair fouled the steering control, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(3) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, which were involved in accidents in which the sliding seat broke loose, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(4) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, which were involved in accidents in which the steering locked or steering wheel collapsed, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(5) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission which were involved in accidents in which the drive pulley broke, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(6) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox and motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, respectively, which were involved in accidents in which the petrol tank fractured, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year;

(7) if he will list the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically-propelled invalid tricycles and four-wheeled cars, or travellers, respectively, which were involved in accidents in which some mechanical or design fault was a contributory factor, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year, listing the main causes involved.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Even if it were possible to establish the facts precisely from the accident report forms, this information could not be extracted without a disproportionate use of resources.

Mrs. Colquhoun

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total number of disabled drivers or their relatives who have written to his Department complaining of carbon monoxide leaking into the driving compartment of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox and motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmissions, respectively, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

None.

Mrs. Colquhoun

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for an independent analysis of all accident report forms filled in by disabled drivers of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, which were involved in accidents, in Northern Ireland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year, to establish the incidence of accidents caused by mechanical or design faults where the driver may have been killed, injured and/or blamed for what occurred.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I am not convinced that such an investigation would be valuable.

Mrs. Colquhoun

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the accident report form filled in by disabled drivers includes details of how the accident was caused, whether the driver was killed or what injuries he sustained, and whether he held a provisional licence; and if he will make available copies of the form to disabled drivers' representatives.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". As to the second part, blank report forms can be supplied but information concerning an individual contained in completed forms cannot properly be disclosed.