§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) which university medical departments are now doing research into medical aspects of deafness; and what is the total number of university medical departments;
(2) how many academic posts there are in oto and rhinolaryngology; in how many universities these posts are held; and of these how many are in medical otology.
§ Mr. PrenticeThere are about 450 university medical departments. Information about current university research into deafness and about the academic and research staff involved is contained in Volume II of "Scientific Research in British Universities and Colleges, 1973–4", a copy of which is in the Library.
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§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what action he is taking to encourage the development of medical otology in university medical departments;
(2) what action he is taking to encourage the establishment of a chair in medical otology.
§ Mr. PrenticeNone. It is for the universities to initiate action in these matters.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many otolaryngologists he has appointed to the UGC; and how many of these have specialised in medical otology.
§ Mr. PrenticeNone.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why officials of his Department are members of one of the MRC's two working parties on research into deafness, and not of the other;
(2) If he will arrange for officials of his Department to become members of the MRC working party on clinical and epidemiological features of sensorineural deafness.
§ Mr. PrenticeMy Department is represented by an observer on the council's Working Party on Research Aspects of the Social and Rehabilitation needs of the deaf because of the educational implications. The Working Party on Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Sensorineural Deafness is concerned with deafness as a medical problem and I do not consider that departmental representation is necessary.