§ Mr. Topeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will inform local authorities of the names of the manufacturers of the low wattage electric under-blankets he considers suitable for the use of pensioners which are commercially available; and how many types of such blanket there are.
§ Sir K. JosephI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 1st February. I understand that under-blankets which meet the requirements of British Standard BS3456 are satisfactory in normal domestic use provided proper 81W attention is paid to the manufacturer's instructions, but none of these could be regarded as suitable for unsupervised use by elderly people in cases of senility, mental disorder or incontinence. The National Research Development Corporation has filed patent applications for the development of an improved type of safety blanket to meet the needs of very frail elderly people living alone and hope to be able to arrange for limited production and trials in the fairly near future.—[Vol. 849, c. 461–2.]
§ Mr. Edelmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further studies he has made of hypothermia among the elderly; and what recommendations he is making to deal with this problem.
§ Sir K. JosephI cannot at present add to my replies to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Tope) on 1st and 6th February.—[Vol. 849, c.461; Vol. 850, c. 61.]