§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has concluded his inquiry into the future supply of occupational therapists; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 6 November 1989]: I have been asked to reply.
We will not have the manpower planning advisory groups' report on the future supply of occupational therapists until spring next year. I am aware of the recent publication of the report, "Occupational Therapy, An Emerging Profession In Health Care", by a commission headed by Louis Blom-Cooper QC. This report is one of a number of topics that will be discussed with the College of Occupational Therapists when my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health meets it later this month.