§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what export sales there have been of either the BRADU or contractors' designed modular leg; what influence he estimates that the BRADU or the contractors' design will have on international standards and practice in these fields; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonA commercially designed modular leg system has been sold in Belgium, Holland and Israel and is being manufactured under licence in France.
At a conference sponsored by my Department last year, which was attended by prosthetic experts from many countries, the substantial measure of agreement reached on clinical requirements 67W and new standards for international application to modular leg systems was considerably influenced by the design experience of the British representatives from both BRADU and the industry.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Kay Committee Report on Artificial Limbs has been substantially shortened; what significant items have been left out of the published report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Mr. Neave) on 5th August 1971.—[Vol. 822, c.406.]
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times the new advisory committee on research into artificial limbs has met since its formation; what improvements have resulted, or may shortly be expected to result, from its deliberations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThe committee has met nine times since November 1971. Its first task in accordance with its terms of reference has been to review the extent and current state of ongoing research and development and to assess priorities. New or extended areas of activity subsequently recommended by the committee and approved by my Department include the establishment of a research unit bringing together the disciplines of orthopaedic surgery and engineering science, and the expansion of experimental facilities at the Chailey Heritage Craft School and Hospital. A number of other projects are currently under consideration.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost so far of the development of the BRADU modular leg; how many below-knee and how many above-knee legs have been fitted to patients; how many of the Department's leg contractors have themselves developed modular leg systems, and at what cost to the Department; how many below-knee and how many above-knee legs of types developed by the contractors have been fitted to patients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThe BRADU contribution to modular leg development is primarily68W the investigation of principles and it is not meaningful to apportion the cost of apparatus produced between that which is evaluated upon patients and that which is evaluated in other ways. Identifiable material and labour costs of hardware of this kind developed over the years for experimental purposes have been about £120,000. Clinical trials have been undertaken on 100 below-knee and six above knee legs.
Modular leg systems designed for production purposes were developed by two of the Department's contractors, technical advice and testing facilities being provided by the Department without charge. No attempt to apportion such costs was made. One system was withdrawn following clinical trials. Financial assistance was given to the remaining one which has now been adopted as the standard modular leg for supply through the artificial limb service. So far 1,300 below-knee and 2,350 above-knee legs have been fitted to patients.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will collect from the official returns the number of children in each of the four countries England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, now alive and with both arms absent of sufficiently disabled (a) following known or presumed exposure to thali-domide and (b) arising from all other causes; how many of each of the four groups of children have been supplied with powered artificial arms; how many of each of the four groups are now using their powered arms as indicated by a significant consumption of gas during the past year or other convenient period; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation about the total numbers of children in these categories is not available, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible about the supply of powered limbs.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is possible for limb-deficient children resident in England and Wales to be fitted with powered arms of the type developed and fitted in Scotland; if so, how many children resident in England and Wales have been fitted with such arms; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. AlisonYes. Arrangements have been made for fitting to start within the next few months.