§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what priority for action has been given to funding of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf for funding a telephone exchange for deaf people, following his meeting with myself and representatives of the institute on 5 August; what subsequent meetings have been held, and when he expects to arrive at his decision.
§ Mr. ScottWe have been actively pursuing the question of the exchange's future funding. I understand that there was a meeting between the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and British Telecom last month. Officials from the Department will be meeting representatives of British Telecom and the other Government Departments concerned on 3 November. I shall make an announcement as soon as a decision has been reached.