§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many health visitors are qualified to screen the hearing ability of children of pre-school age; and what proportion of the total this figure represents;
(2) what arrangements exist for training health visitors to screen the hearing ability of children of pre-school age; and what proportion of these children are so screened;
(3) in what way screening the hearing ability of children of pre-school age is likely to be affected by the reorganisation of the health service.
§ Mr. AlisonHealth visitors are instructed in methods of screening young children for hearing impairment as part of their normal training, and it is routine for them to undertake this function. Information is not available on the extent to which children fail to be screened but I would expect the number to be small. Reorganisation of the health service will not affect the present screening arrangements except that I am sure it will facilitate the general development of health services for children.