§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will study the report of the Royal Western Counties hospital in Devon on deaf people who have been misplaced in National Health Service hospitals for the mentally handicapped, which indicates that 750 deaf people in Great Britain may have been similarly misplaced; and if he will investigate the situation and take steps to rectify it.
§ Sir George YoungI am aware of the study to which my hon. Friend refers and I agree that this is an area in which our present knowledge is inadequate. This is why I am glad that, as I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) on 15 January—[Vol. 996, c.621]—the Department is undertaking further study in this field, including consideration of research needs, which may involve work following on from that already done within the Royal Western Counties hospital.