§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many times the two MRC working parties on research into deafness have met; and when they expect to issue their final report;
(2) if he will request the MRC working parties on research into deafness to issue an interim report by the end of this year;
(3) if he will list the members of the two MRC working parties on research into deafness.
§ Mr. PrenticeI understand that these working parties have each met six times and have submitted interim reports. These have now been considered by the Medical Research Council's Sub-committee on Research on Deafness whose recommendations about organisation and co-ordinating machinery for the promotion of research on the most important facets of the problem of deafness will shortly be submitted to the council. I understand that the council is unlikely to reach any conclusions before the end of the year.
The members of the two working parties are as follows:
Working Party on Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Sensorineural Deafness
Mr. Harold Ludman (Chairman), Dr. R. R. A. Coles, Mr. B. H. Colman, Mr. E. E. Douck, Dr. J. D. Hood, Dr. J. H. Humphrey, Dr. R. H. Kay, Dr. T. W. Meade, Professor L. Michaels, Mr. J. A. M. Martin, Mr. A. W. Morrison, Dr. L. A. Pike, Dr. I. C. Whitfield; with officials of the Health Departments.
Working Party on Research Aspects of the Social and Rehabilitation Needs of the Deaf
Professor C. I. Howarth (Chairman), Dr. T. Alper, Dr. J. C. Eallantyre, Miss C. Brooke-Hughes, Miss S. Chown, Dr. J. C. Denmark, Dr. L. Fisch, Mr. T. McLaren, Mr. J. A. M. Martin, Mr. L. Moss, Dr. N. O'Connor, Dr. N. G. Pearson, Professor I. G. Taylor; with officials of the Health Departments, Department of Education and Science and the Social Science Research Council.