§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he thinks it will be possible to provide a new specialist vehicle for the disabled;
(2) how his Department will evaluate the need for a specialist vehicle; and if he will give an assurance that his consideration will not be confined to the present users of invalid tricycles.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisMy hon. Friend will be aware of my right hon. Friend's 591W statement and replies to supplementary questions on 6th December.—[Vol. 940, c. 1124–39.]—The main mobility benefit is now the mobility allowance which is to be raised to £10 a week from next July. The new organisation, Motability, which has been set up with practical administrative help from my Department, will seek to ensure that disabled people who want to use their mobility allowance to obtain a vehicle will get maximum value for their money in doing so. While decisions have not yet been taken about particular vehicles, I have no doubt Motability will look at the possibility of including in the arrangements they make any suitable specialised vehicles which may be available. Research conducted by the Motor Industry Research Association on behalf of my Department and the Department of Transport will see to establish the extent to which the needs of disabled people cannot be met by adapted production cars and to assess the potential value of developments currently being undertaken. The consideration of these matters is not confined to the present users of tricycles issued under the old vehicle scheme who, as my hon. Friend will know, have been assured that they will not be immobilised by the decision to phase out the tricycle.