§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) health authorities on orthoptics research in each year since 1970.
§ Mrs. Chalker(a) Expenditure by my right hon. Friend's Department on orthoptics research has been as follows:
£ 1970–71 8,263 1971–72 6,869 1972–73 7,115 1973–74 20,883 1974–75 65,681 1975–76 105,278 1976–77 147,019 1977–78 193,789 1978–79 231,373 (b) Statistics are not maintained centrally of expenditure by health authorities on orthoptics research and details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.