asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many myoelectric hands have been purchased for patients on the National Health Service; and if he will give a breakdown of use by region of the United Kingdom.
Provision has been made for the supply of myoelectric hands to 25 children in England and Wales who have been selected to take part in the trial of the hand which I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 19th June—[Vol. 952, c. 2–5.]The children were chosen, in accordance with the clinical criteria adopted, on a national basis from the records main-mined by the artificial limb and appliance service. Fourteen of the children live in the North of England and 11 in the South of England and in Wales. Fitting is now being undertaken in accordance with a planned programme at the Roehampton and Manchester limb fitting centres.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is co-operating in this evaluation so far as children in Scotland are concerned.