§ Dr. Michael Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give the number and proportion of retirement pensioners resident in the area
Date Centre Complaint Action October 1983 Kingston Supply of powered indoor wheelchair refused. Patient's home was unsuitable for a powered wheelchair. She has moved to purpose-built accommodation and her needs are being re-assessed. November 1983 Kingston 6-month delay in supply of custom-built wheelchair. Explanation given of production problems at manufacturers. Now delivered. January 1984 Kingston Recurring problems with buckling wheels on wheelchair. Replacement model with more suitable, smaller wheels provided. October 1983 Exeter Department's wheelchair range does not include ultra-lightweight models. Need to contain cost of wheelchair service explained. Ministerial correspondence continuing. November 1983 Exeter Department would not supply second indoor powered wheelchair for use at work. Need to contain cost of wheelchair service explained. Alternative forms of help identified. November 1983 Exeter Department would not supply two wheelchairs outside its normal range. Exceptionally one of models requested was supplied. September 1983 Nottingham Buggy-type wheelchair on issue too small and model outside Department's range initially refused. New model was being evaluated. Supplied following approval. October 1983 Nottingham Supply of safety harness for powered wheelchair refused because it was for use in a motor vehicle. Supply of the harness arranged after risks inherent in its intended use explained. November 1983 Nottingham Allegation of cumpulsory shared use of a wheelchair in a Home Office institution. Complaint investigated and found unwarranted.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details for each artificial limb and appliance centre and subcentre for the last three periods of one week for which figures are available, of the number of non-powered wheelchairs which took between
186Wcovered by the Southend health authority and comparable statistics for each of the other districts within the North-East Thames region.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information requested is given in the following table. It relates to the estimated resident populations at 30 June 1982, the latest date for which figures are available.
Number of persons and percentage of population of pensionable age* or over Number '000s percentage Southend 65.0 20.4 Basildon and Thurrock 36.3 12.9 Mid Essex 41.1 15.1 North East Essex 63.7 22.4 West Essex 40.0 15.6 Barking, Havering and Brentwood 81.0 17.4 Hampstead 20.3 19.1 Bloomsbury 26.9 20.6 Islington 28.5 17.5 City and Hackney 32.0 17.0 Newham 35.2 16.6 Tower Hamlets 25.8 17.9 Enfield 50.2 19.2 Haringey 33.4 16.3 Redbridge 44.1 19.4 Waltham Forest 42.6 19.7 * Age 60 for women and 65 for men.