§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will commission an investigation into the psychological effects of lack of communication in young children and the methods by which communication may be established for different handicaps.
§ Mr. AlisonThe Speech and Communication Unit and the Developmental Psychology Unit of the Medical Research Council are carrying out research into disorders of language development in children and investigating cognitive handicap in subnormal, autistic, aphasic, dyslexic, deaf and blind children. Other aspects of communication problems are being studied by Manchester University with the aid of a long-term grant from the council. Attention has also been drawn to the problem of communication in deaf children in the evidence submitted to the Medical Research Council pursuant to Section 24 of the Chronically506W Sick and Disabled Persons Act. We see no need for further action on our part at the present time.