§ Sir Hugh RossiTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken to discharge his undertaking of June to meet the cost of the information booklet produced by the United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society made a formal application to the Department for help with the costs of reprinting its booklet and of translating it into the languages of the communities at risk on 12 October.
I have responded to the society by approving a grant of £5,000 for this purpose.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will direct the Health Education Authority to produce information booklets on thalassaemia and to make them available in the appropriate languages.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 10 December 1987]: The Health Education Authority's booklet "Sickle Cell Disease" which also deals with thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies is intended as a guide for general practitioners, nurses and other health professionals.
The Thalassaemia Society publishes an information leaflet on the disease in English and we have approved funding to make it available in the languages of those communities at most risk.