§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of three-wheel invalid cars suplied by her Department covered 0–100 miles, 101–200 miles, 201–300 miles, 301–400 miles, 401–500 miles, 501–600 miles, 601–700 miles, 701–800 miles, 801–900 miles and 901–1,000 miles, respectively, in the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:I regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many motor tricycles were on issue to disabled drivers, and how many in the reserve fleet, broken down in terms of the various models, for the latest year available.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:At 31st December 1974 there were on issue in England 7,059 Model 70s and 11,591 earlier models not currently in production. In addition there was a reserve fleet of about 2,300 pre-Model 70 vehicles.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, at the 369W latest convenient date, was the cost of the invalid vehicle service attributable to the tricycle, broken down into the following categories: (i) replacement of vehicles on issue by new vehicles, (ii) repairs and maintenance of vehicles on issue, (iii) replacement costs relating to the reserve fleet, (iv) repairs and maintenance of the reserve fleet, (v) administration, and (vi) other costs.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:The information is not available in the form requested. The overall cost in the1973–74 financial year was approximately £4½ million. This includes the purchase of new vehicles for first applicants as well as for replacements, repairs and maintenance, including the reserve fleet, insurance, driving tuition and petrol allowance but excludes administration costs, which are not separately recorded.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is still satisfied that there are no reasons on grounds of safety to withdraw three-wheeled invalid tricycles.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:I am not satisfied that the withdrawal of invalid tricycles is justified. However, I am actively studying reports relating to accidents involving invalid tricycles to see what can be done to minimise the number of these accidents.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has recently received about the safety of three-wheeled invalid tricycles; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:Representations on this subject have reached me from a few individuals and from certain organisations of disabled people. I am undertaking an analysis of information about injury accidents in 1973–74, and I shall write to the hon. Member when the figures are available.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the difference between the accident rate per million miles for three-wheeled invalid tricycles compared with adapted cars supplied to the disabled.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:Based on estimated average annual mileages, the figures for the year ended 30th September 1974 370W were approximately 77 and 33 respectively. These figures are not precisely comparable. They reflect differences in the inspection and servicing arrangements, which in the case of tricycles result in the reporting of a proportionately higher number of minor incidents; differences in the characteristics of the vehicles, in the groups of drivers involved and in the pattern of use. About one-third of the Department's cars are not adapted; these are not separately identified in the Department's accident records.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1), in the last year for which figures are available, in what proportion of the accidents in which invalid three-wheelers issued by her Department were involved the invalid three-wheeler concerned was travelling at a speed in excess of 35 mph.
(2) in the last year for which figures are available, how many of the invalid three-wheelers issued by her Department were involved in no accidents, one accident, two accidents and three or more accidents, respectively.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:Information in the form requested is not available, or cannot be provided without a disproportionate use of resources, but the analysis I am undertaking of information about injury accidents in 1973–74 takes account of previous accident records and drivers' own estimates of speed. I shall write to my hon. Friend when the figures are available.