§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what discussions he has had with the blind mobility research unit at Nottingham university about progress in developing electronic aids for blind people;
(2) what steps he is taking to develop electronic aids for blind people.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI am in regular and frequent contact with the blind mobility research unit at Nottingham university which receives grant aid both 55W from my Department and the Medical Research Council. My hon. Friend will be pleased to kow that I have asked my Department to undertake an urgent examination of all matters affecting the supply of electronic aids to blind people, including research and development.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the possibility of adapting the sonar autofocus system as a warning device for blind people.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI believe my hon. Friend has in mind Lord Snowdon's suggestion to adapt the new Sonar focusing device developed by Polaroid UK as an aid to help blind people.
While I appreciate that this device is only at an early stage of development, I believe it could well be of very considerable importance to blind people here and abroad. Immediately following Lord Snowdon's suggestion, I asked the Royal National Institute for the Blind, in collaboration with the blind mobility research unit at Nottingham university, urgently to examine the potential of the Polaroid device as an aid to mobility for blind people. If as I hope their report shows that the device can be suitably and practically modified, I will certainly do my best to see that it is made widely available.
I am grateful to Lord Snowdon for being in touch with me about this and congratulate him on his initiative. At the same time, I commend Polaroid UK for its generous offer to help.