§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the fact that the recently opened employment rehabilitation centre for the disabled in Preston cannot be used by those profoundly deaf persons who are dependent upon manual methods of communication, because there is no interpreter on the staff of the centre, he will take steps to remedy this situation.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that Preston, in common with the majority of employment rehabilitation centres, is able to offer courses for the profoundly deaf. The first such person started a rehabilitation course there three weeks ago and others will be starting shortly. Eight members of the staff at Preston ERC have received basic training in manual communication skills of whom two have also undertaken advanced training.