asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is currently being undertaken under the auspices of her Department into electrically operated wheelchairs.

My Department is financing research into an improved attendant operated outdoor powered chair. We are also co-operating with two manufacturers in the development of kits that would be used to convert some of the more commonly prescribed non-powered wheelchairs into powered versions and in the development of a power assisted attendant operated outdoor wheelchair in which the power would be brought into play when necessary, for example, when surmounting slopes.