§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to extend the range of National Health Service wheelchairs available to disabled people.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department's range of wheelchairs includes some 70 non-powered and 10 powered models, with a large number of variants. Proprietary wheelchairs and bespoke models can be provided where there is a medical requirement. The range is continuously under review and new models are introduced from time to time in response to needs or technical developments. We have, however, asked the working party which is examining the services of artificial limb and appliance centres to consider the broad categories of wheelchairs provided by the Department.