§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget was allocated for the provision of self-propelled indoor/outdoor, non-attendant, electrical wheelchairs in the financial year 1997–98; what was the actual expenditure on electric wheelchairs in that year; and how many self-propelled indoor/outdoor, non-attendant, electric wheelchairs were issued in that year. [64477]
§ Mr. HuttonIn 1997/98 the sum of £7 million was allocated to enable the National Health Service to provide electrically-powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs. 4,500 chairs were issued in 1997/98. Total expenditure on the service, including costs such as additional assessment and training in the safe use of the chair as well as the cost of the chair, was £6,683,523.