Invalid Vehicles

HC Deb 07 May 1975 vol 891 cc467-8W

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which categories of, and how many, disabled people would not be able to use the adapted mini-car which is at present supplied for war-disabled persons.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The main categories are people who, because of arthritis or spondilitis, cannot bend sufficiently to get into adapted production cars, and people who, because of limited ability to move their arms, need special steering controls. The numbers could not be firmly estimated without comprehensive testing. They are certainly a minority, but a substantial one.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date she received knowledge of the overturning of an invalid tricycle at the time of tests being conducted by MIRA.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The incident occurred on 4th September 1973, the day before the wind gust test. As I said in reply to my hon. Friends the Members for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) and Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 29th April—[Vol. 891, c.86–7.]—the vehicle which overturned was being reversed by a member of the association's staff who was not familiar with tiller or handlebar steering. My Department was informed of the incident immediately, before the wind gust test, and we were subsequently shown the driver's account of the incident. I know the hon. Gentleman will be pleased to learn that reports of the vehicle having overturned during testing are unfounded.

I have now placed in the Library a copy of the report on the wind gust test, from which all commercially confidential information has been deleted by the Director of MIRA. It was on his advice. given because other makes of vehicles were involved in the tests, that earlier information about the test was limited to the synopsis placed in the Library on 25th March 1974. As soon as the present fuller report became available I made immediate arrangements for it to be placed in the Library. I think hon. Members who read it will agree that the main points in the report had been fairly brought out in the synopsis.