Wheelchairs

House of Lords written question – answered at on 10 May 2001.

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Photo of Baroness Darcy de Knayth Baroness Darcy de Knayth Crossbench

asked 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

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.

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health)

The 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.

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