asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will arrange for an investigation into the shortage of spare parts for wheelchairs for the disabled.

Efforts by my Department and their contractors to overcome shortages of some components, ex- perienced at times during the past year because of restrictions and uncertainties in the engineering industry, have not been unproductive. I have no evidence of a general shortage of spare parts for wheelchairs. If my hon. Friend knows of individual cases of difficulty now, I would welcome details to enable me to investigate them.