§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much he estimates will be added to the unit cost per vehicle by fitting rollover bars and interior sound insulation to invalid tricycles in 1976–77; what further modifications are necessary to enable the tricycles to meet EEC-type approval regulations; and by what estimated amount the unit cost per vehicle will be increased in 1977–78.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisOf the order of £35. A number of modifications to future production will be necessary to satisfy 389W those EEC-type regulations which are to come into force in October 1977. It is not possible to estimate the likely extra unit cost at this stage.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the curent annual cost to public funds, including depreciation, of supplying a disabled person with one of his Department's four-wheeled cars.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAn estimate of the unit cost of supplying cars may be arrived at by dividing the total identifiable expenditure in a financial year by the number of beneficiaries at the middle of the year. This provides a comparison which takes account of the fact that cars are reissued after overhaul as well as supplied new and that other costs are incurred such as insurance, driving tuition and the petrol tax allowance. The relevant figure for 1975–76 was £345. No adjustment has been made to reflect the element of VAT and car tax accruing to the Exchequer, or loss of revenue because the cars are exempt from vehicle Excise duty. Administrative costs are excluded.