§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, why his Department has ceased supporting financially the work of Dr. Philip Odor and the Godfrey Thomson unit in the University of Edinburgh in their work on communicative aids for language and learning.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe communications aids for language and learning centre, established in 1983, was funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, Lothian regional council and the urban renewal unit until March 1985. To allow the centre time to seek alternative funding sources, the Scottish Education Department offered a grant towards establishment and research costs for the financial year 1985–86, to cease on 31 March 1986. The grant was accepted on these terms. My Department, however, is not in a position to finance the centre on a permanent basis.