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asked the Minister of Health why he refused to grant a motor tricycle to Mr. John Lennon, a disabled ex-Service man, of 29, Watson Road, Birmingham, 8, despite the fact that this has made impossible Mr. Lennon's acceptance of an offer of training from the Ministry of Labour.
As the hon. Member has already been informed, the refusal was based on the conclusion reached by my medical advisers after several reviews of the case, that this patient's condition does not prevent him from using the available public transport to attend for training. I understand that my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Labour would be prepared to accept him for training relying on public transport, or, alternatively, at a residential centre.
Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Ministry of Labour informed me quite specifically that their offer was dependent upon this tricycle being provided, but that as a result of it not being provided that offer has now fallen through, and that Mr. Lennon is fully supported in this by the views of his own doctor?
I am aware of the outline of the correspondence that the hon. Gentleman has had, but that was, I think, in January, 1954, and the latter part of my answer carries the story forward from then. There have been two further medical reviews. On this sort of matter one must take the medical opinion.