§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will request information from regional health authorities regarding (a) the number of audiology technicians employed in each health district per 1,000 of the catchment population, (b) the number of unfilled posts in each district, (c) the number of technicians doing ancillary work, (d) their forecast of the expected growth in the number of technicians required and (e) information in the degree of difficulty they are currently having in recruiting technicians.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNo. As I explained to th., right hon. Member in my reply to his earlier inquiry about audiology technicians on 4 May—[Vol 23, c.26–27]—the 387W provision of services is the responsibility of individual health authorities. I would expect them to obtain and use for the purposes of planning services all the information listed in the question.