To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that those provided with wheelchair services prior to March 2005 can be issued with replacement wheelchairs to at least the same specification when their criteria remain unchanged and do not meet the revised criteria set out in version 005 of the health care standards for wheelchair services under the NHS published in March 2005; and if she will make a statement. (114636)

The needs of those requiring wheelchair services will continue to be assessed individually on the basis of clinical need and locally determined eligibility criteria. The document ‘Health Care Standards for Wheelchair Services under the NHS’ was not a document published or endorsed by the Department but was produced by the wheelchair managers forum, which includes representation from the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine, empower, the National Forum of Wheelchair User Groups the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, the Posture and Mobility group and Whizz-Kidz. The document was issued as guidance and is not mandatory.