§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the numbers of wheelchairs(a) supplied and (b) kept in storage in Cornwall in the last year for which figures are available. [147835]
§ Mr. Hutton5,523 residents in Cornwall have a wheelchair issued by the Disablement Services Centre at Derriford Hospital. In 2000, 1,680 wheelchairs were issued of which 50 per cent. were new and 50 per cent. reconditioned. A number of wheelchairs are held in store at any one time, in the course of transfer to new users, or during repair.