HC Deb 28 June 1967 vol 749 c497
22. Mr. Hannan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for imp roving the ascertainment of deafness of children.

Mr. Millan

My hon. Friend will be aware of the recently published report of the working party which studied this problem in detail. It makes a number of important recommendations, and these my right hon. Friend will be considering in the light of the views of the local authority associations and other interested bodies.

Mr. Hannan

My hon. Friend will recall that paragraph 45 of the report speaks of education authorities' powers going down to only age 2 for early ascertainment of deafness in children and suggests an amendment of the law. Will he give even earlier consideration to that and try to introduce legislation on this subject?

Mr. Millan

This is one of the very important recommendations which we are now discussing with the authorities. It is certainly one of the matters which we have very much in mind.

Dr. Miller

Is my hon. Friend aware that backwardness in children is sometimes diagnosed when it is deafness which is wrong with a child, so that it is absolutely essential that early diagnosis is made in cases of this kind? Will he push this with the utmost vigour?

Mr. Millan

Certainly. The working party directed its attention and recommendations towards that.