§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list how many(a) electronically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and (b) wheelchair vouchers were issued by each health authority in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and what was the cost to each health authority. [123505]
§ Mr. HuttonTable 1 shows the totals for numbers of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs issued to users and numbers of people issued with a voucher for 1997–98 and 1998–99, along with forecasted outturn figures for 1999–2000, in England.
Table 2 shows the totals for the total committed spend on electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs, and total actual spend on vouchers for 1997–98 and 1998–99, along with forecasted expenditure figures for 1999–2000, in England.
A breakdown by each health authority of these national figures has been placed in the Library.
Table 1 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Numbers of electronic indoor/outdoor wheelchairs issued to users 4,464 4,033 3,263 Numbers of people issued with a voucher 560 5,010 6,217
Table 2 £ Total committed spend on powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs Total actual spend on vouchers 1997–98 6,428,468 764,000 1998–99 8,098,511 3,457,516.51 1999–2000 6,936,225.91 3,968,668.66 Notes:
1. Data are based on National Health Service financial accounting years.
2. Figures for 1999–2000 are based on forecasted returns for quarter 4 1999–2000.
3. As health authorities were required to have voucher schemes in place by 1 April 1998, data returns on numbers of people issued with a voucher were not compulsory during 1997–98.
4. In February 1998–99 health authorities were authorised to transfer any voucher scheme underspends to mainsteam or powered wheelchair provision. This expenditure is not reflected in the report of expenditure on actual vouchers.