§ Baroness Darcy de Knaythasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and wheelchair vouchers have been issued to users in England in each of the three years 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, and in 2000–01 to the latest convenient date; and [HL1988]
How much they are committed to spend on electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and what is the total actual spend on vouchers for such wheelchairs in England in each of the three years 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, and in 2000–01 to the latest convenient date. [HL1989]
237WA
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe information is given in the table. The figures for 2000–01 are forecasts. We are fully committed to promoting the independence of people with a disability. The voucher scheme has become increasingly popular, as the figures indicate; £14 million has been provided for wheelchairs and vouchers within health authority revenue baselines from April 2000 onwards. The distinction between money to be spent on vouchers and money to be spent on chairs has however been removed and all health authorities has been asked to maintain a voucher scheme.
Figures for England 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 forecast end of year Number of indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs issued 4,464 4,033 3,388 3,417 Number of people issued with a voucher 560 5,010 6,305 6,806 Total spend on indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs £6,428,468 £8,098,511 £6,891,557 £6,435,002 Total spend on wheelchair vouchers (all types of wheelchair) £764,000 £3,457,517 £4,246,040 £4,343,376 Footnote:
The data have been collected by the Common Information Core. In 1997–98 it was not mandatory for health authorities to provide data. The data analysis assumes blank returns are 0.