§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has had about the Minister for Health's reply on 31 October concerning the shortfall in the number of trained occupational therapists in the National Health Service; what information had been conveyed to his Department by the College of Occupational Therapists on this matter before the parliamentary reply was given; if he now intends to revise the reply; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have received 10 letters from hon. Members on this matter.
Before my reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 31 October, at column 1077, our Department had received from the College of 592W Occupational Therapists a short summary of the results of a survey of shortages of occupational therapists in the NHS. However, that summary provided insufficient detail about the scope and statistical basis of the survey to enable us to appraise the validity of the inferences drawn by the college about the extent of the reported shortfall.
Since 31 October we have received further information from the College of Occupational Therapists which, as I mentioned in my reply of 4 December at column 171, to the hon. Member for Eccles, we are considering together with other information provided by health authorities.