§ Dr. TwinnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken to promote the development in the United Kingdom of conductive education as practised at the Peto institute.
§ Mr. ScottI have been asked to reply.
I announced in the House in December 1989 details of our proposal to create a formal link with the Peto institute. We have agreed to provide a total of £5 million from Government funds over four financial years towards the capital costs of the new international institute projected by the Hungarian Government, subject to satisfactory progress with construction and conclusion of an agreement covering access for United Kingdom children and trainee conductors. Discussions to conclude this agreement will take place shortly.
Access for British trainee conductors will be particularly important for the long-term future of conductive education in this country. The Foundation for Conductive Education in Birmingham was formed to establish conductive education in the United Kingdom and has signed a long-term agreement to bring conductive education to this country, under Hungarian direction. To ensure that trainee conductors receive the maximum support for and benefit from their training, the Government are providing more than £92,000 over three years for the foundation to employ a tutor in Budapest.
To help parents who are considering taking a disabled child to the Peto institute in Budapest, we are funding the production by the foundation of a guide offering information about conductive education itself and the financial and other implications of visiting Hungary.