To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing for each area board the number of orthotists in post for each of the last five years for which figures are available; what plans he has to increase the number of orthotists in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the orthotics service in Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland the prosthetic orthotic and aids service is ad ministered by the Eastern health and social services board as a regional service supplying artificial limbs (prostheses) and appliances (orthoses). The figures requested are as follows:

Prosthetist/Orthotist
Year	Number
1983	4
1984	5
1985	5
1986	5
1987	5

Under powers conferred by statute the Department of Health and Social Security has delegated to health and social services boards its functions of providing or securing the provision of integrated health services designed to promote the health and social welfare of the people of Northern Ireland. It is for the Eastern board to decide how best to provide this particular service in the light of its assessment of need and other competing demands.