§ 33. Mr. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how he proposes to secure in the pre-school children better 1034 detection of early physical and mental handicaps.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneThe medical and nursing staffs of local health authorities, particularly the health visitors, take every opportunity to secure earlier ascertainment of mental and physical handicaps. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that local authorities do all they can to carry out this important statutory duty.
§ Mr. RossIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that his own Report points to this as a defect in the Health Service? Is he aware that children are appearing in school where it is discovered they are suffering from defects which if they had been detected earlier would have been treated without impairing the child during that time or doing injury to its educational capacity?
§ Mr. BrowneI agree with the hon. Gentleman that this is an important matter. It is up to us to teach the mothers, who have to allow examination of children under five, to realise how important it is.