§ Dr. Stuttafordasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children leaving school have impaired hearing; and what percentage this is of the total number leaving school in any one year;
(2) how many children entering primary school have impaired hearing; and what percentage this is of the total number entering school in any one year.
§ Mr. van Straubenzee:The figures for 1970 were as follows:
With hearing defects requiring Treatment Observation Number Percentag Number Perrentage Children enteringmaintained primaryschools 9,569 1.2 28,611 3.6 Children leaving maintained schools 2,126 0.3 3,555 0.6 Many of the defects were minor or temporarv and readily amenable to treatment