§ 46. Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress his Department has made in its study of an alternative vehicle to the invalid tricycle.
§ 54. Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on progress towards finding a replacement for the invalid tricycle.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWe have commissioned the motor industry research association to undertake a study of available 569W adaptations to ordinary motor cars and of the potential value of further adaptations or specialised vehicles which are available or under development both at home and abroad. In doing so, we had very much in mind our commitment to former vehicle scheme beneficiaries and, at the same time, we were conscious of the need to encourage developments which could lead to a better choice of specialised vehicles or adaptations to production cars becoming commercially available to disabled people generally. This report is not yet to hand, but will be published in due course. Meanwhile existing stocks of three-wheelers, which are being carefully conserved, will be adequate to meet the needs of people who continue to use the vehicle until 1983 at least, and probably for a good while longer.