§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are currently suffering from the disease of spina bifida in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:Information is not collected centrally about spina bifida specifically and it is included in malformations of the central nervous system. The recorded incidence of conditions in this category dropped from over 37 per 10,000 total births in England and Wales in 1973 to less than 33 per 10,000 in 1977.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities exist for the refinement of the hobcart design to further suit the requirements of children with spina bifida that could use them.
§ Mr. Alfred Morris:The hobcart was developed with spina bifida children in mind and children with this disability have used the cart successfully. If my hon. Friend is aware of any case of difficulty, I shall be pleased to make inquiries.