HC Deb 09 November 1979 vol 973 cc381-2W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what international co-operation is taking place in the field of communication aids for persons who are speech impaired; to what extent his Department is occupied in such work; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Prentice

An international project under the title "International Project on Communication Aids for the Speech Impaired"—IPCAS—has recently been established. The initial participating countries are Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and it is expected that the United States and other countries will join in the near future. The United Kingdom lead is being taken by the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, and the Department has made a grant to RADAR for this purpose. Officials of the Department have been invited to attend meetings of the national advisory group set up by RADAR as observers and will help the group in every way possible.