Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons in Scotland are known to be suffering from epilepsy, and what are the comparable figures for 1950, 1955, and 1960, respectively.
§ Mr. RossEpilepsy is not a notifiable disease and there are no statistics available from which it is possible to obtain a true picture of its incidence.
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken in Scotland to implement the recommendations of the Cohen Report on the care of epileptics; and what plans he has to further develop the existing facilities and services for epileptics in Scotland.
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§ Mr. RossThe Cohen Committee surveyed the position in England and Wales and their main recommendation, that diagnostic and treatment facilities for epileptics should be provided at special centres, has not been applied in Scotland because there is no unanimity of view that this is the right way for the service to develop. I have decided, however, that it would be helpful to have an authoritative review of the current position and I am asking the Scottish Standing Medical Advisory Committee to undertake such a review.