§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether resources will be made available to area health authorities for the purchase of automatic response cradles.
§ Sir George YoungDuring the last six years the Department has been giving financial support to a research study led by Dr. M. J. Bennett of Brunei University to develop equipment to test the hearing of neonates. Dr. Bennett has developed an auditory response system known as the Linco-Bennett cradle. Trials of the equipment in a screening role are still in progress but it is already clear that the system can serve a useful and important purpose in post-natal care. The Department is currently arranging to purchase three of the cradles, as a pump-priming exercise, for use and further evaluation in the NHS. We hope that the experience gained through the use of these cradles will encourage health authorities to acquire this equipment.