§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress the Institute of Hearing Research has made in its investigations into cochlear implants.
§ Mrs. Shirley Williams, pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 11th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 260], gave the following information:
294WInvestigations into cochlear implants do not form part of the programme of work to be carried out by the Institute of Hearing Research, but the Medical Research Council has awarded a special project grant to research workers in London and Reading for a study of speech pattern presentation by single channel extra-cochlear electrical stimulation. The work is progressing well, and preliminary results suggest that a practical aid could be developed in the near future.
I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services that a group of ENT surgeons supported by his Department recently visited a number of centres in the United States where work on cochlear implants is carried out, and their report is now awaited.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to ensure consumer representation on the Institute of Hearing Research.
§ Mrs. Shirley Williams, pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 11th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 260], gave the following information:
The Institute, like all other MRC establishments, does not have a governing body, but the director intends to continue to maintain close contacts with consumers.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the size of the staff of the Institute of Hearing Research; how many new people have been employed there since the Institute was established; and what are their specialities;
(2) if she will list in the Official Report the medical disciplines involved in the Institute of Hearing Research; what contact officials of the Institute have made with specialists abroad; and what subjects they have studied.
§ Mrs. Shirley Williams, pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 11th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 260], gave the following information:
The exact complement of the Institute of Hearing Research will not be decided until details of the outstations have been settled. Thirteen members of staff have now been appointed—but not all are yet in 295W post—the Director and Deputy Director, two scientists, whose respective disciplines are auditory physiology and speech and hearing, three research officers, three technicians, and three administrative staff. The Institute is advertising for an audiologist/psychoacoustician, an epidemiologist/statistician and a systems programmer, and advertisements are shortly to appear for three audiologist posts at the outstations.
In the outstation programmes the Director hopes to incorporate otologists, ENT surgeons, audiological physicians, other medically qualified personnel and personnel qualified in the supporting disciplines such as physics and biochemistry.
The Director is already discussing active co-operation with medical school laboratories in the United States and
Capital £ Running Costs Institute of Hearing Research (Funds provided by Medical Research Council) Original estimate 500,000 Rising to £250,000 p.a. by 1980–81. Estimated expenditure by 1st April 1978 165,000 £100,000 Current estimate 730,000* Rising to £290,000 p.a. by 1980–81. NHS Service Facilities for Institute's Outstations (Funds provided by Health Departments and Welsh Office) Original estimate 75,000 Rising to £175,000 p.a. by 1980–81. Estimated expenditure by 1st April 1978 62,000 £21,000 Current estimate 90,000 Rising to £210,000 p.a. by 1980–81. * Subject to approval by Department of Education and Science.