asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of research on, and treatment of, battered children.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Battered Child Research Department is continuing its valuable research project into this syndrome. My Department is in touch and is following with interest the progress of this particular research. My Department is also in touch with local authorities on the steps they are taking to improve ways and means of dealing with this difficult problem.