§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consideration he has given to introducing legislation to make the notification of spastic cases compulsory;
(2) whether he will send a circular to all local health authorities asking them to ascertain how many persons in their areas are suffering from cerebral palsy;
(3) whether he is satisfied that local health authorities in Scotland have made adequate arrangements for the care and attention of adult persons, especially the elderly, suffering from cerebral palsy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. StuartCompulsory notification has hitherto been confined to infectious conditions, and I do not think there is enough to be gained in this case to justify a proposal to depart from that principle. Medical officers of health in Scotland have been asked to include, in their Annual Reports for 1954, statements of information available about the incidence of spastic paralysis or cerebral palsy in each area, and to review the facilities available under the local health services for persons suffering from this handicap. They have also been asked to review the degree to which these facilities are being co-ordinated with the diagnostic and treatment services and with the welfare services. When this information has been received, I propose to consider the position further.
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