HC Deb 10 March 1978 vol 945 cc802-4W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with Dr. Sorby about the prosthesis he has developed for assisting children born without fully formed arms; and if he will arrange for clinical trials of the prosthesis developed in Sweden by Dr. Sorby to help children without fully formed arms.

Mr. Alfred Morris

New developments of artificial limbs and, in particular, of powered artificial limbs, are of very considerable interest to my Department.

I understand that the hand in question has been developed for and fitted to children between the ages of 2 and 5 who have congenital deficiency below the elbow, and that the team concerned are hoping to extend its range of use. This artificial hand has recently been demonstrated to officers of my Department, who are now assessing its capabilities in relation to other devices which are either already available or known to be in course of development. A decision on the desirability of conducting clinical trials

TABLE 1
LOCAL AUTHORITY DAY NURSERY PLACES
Thousands
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
England‡ 21.6 N.A. 22.6 23.7 24.6 26.0 26.9
Wales‡ N.A. N.A. 0.1 0.1 0.1
Scotland† N.A. 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.5 N.A. 3.5
Northern Ireland§ N.A. N.A. 0.1

TABLE 2
MAXIMUM PERMITTED NUMBERS OF CHILDREN RECEIVING ALL-DAY CARE IN REGISTERED PREMISES
Thousands
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
England‡ 19.8 N.A. 23.0 24.6 24.3* 25.9 26.0
Walest‡ N.A. 0.6 0.7 1.9 1.2 0.9
Scotland† N.A. 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.1 N.A. 0.4║
Northern Ireland§ N.A. N.A. 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1
* Excludes one local authority.
║ Incomplete data.

TABLE 3
MAXIMUM PERMITTED NUMBERS OF CHILDREN RECEIVING ALL-DAY CARE IN REGISTERED PERSONS
Thousands
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
England‡ 47.4 N.A. 55.3 56.7 56.7* 60.7 64.2
Wales‡ N.A. N.A. 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.8
Scotland† N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 1.0
Northern Ireland§ N.A. N.A. 0.3 N.A. 0.4 0.8 0.8
* Excludes one local authority.
† Due date of collection 31st December prior to 1975, 31st March from 1976 (hence no figures for 1975).
‡ Due date of collection 31st December for 1970 and 31st March from 1972 (hence no figures for 1971).
§ Due to reorganisation the figures for Northern Ireland should be treated with caution. Date of collection 31st March prior to 1974, 31st December thereafter.
Symbols denote:
—=Nil or negligible.
N.A.=Not available.

Mr. Pattie

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for increasing the number of full-time day care places.

Mr. Moyle

The Government are committed to a continuing expansion of day will, of course, depend upon the results of the assessments made.