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Written Answers

Volume 445: debated on Wednesday 7 December 1983

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Written Answers

Speech And Language Disorders

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide statistics for the number of adults and children who have speech or language disorders.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security
(Lord Glenarthur)

Information about the number of people who have speech or language disorders is not available. In 1981, the latest year for which we have information, about 225,000 attendances by in-patients and 445,000 attendances by out-patients were recorded at speech therapy departments at National Health Service hospitals in England: 23,000 in-patients and 27,000 out-patients started their courses of treatment in these departments during 1981. Information on the ages of people receiving these treatments is not available centrally, nor is information available centrally on the number treated by speech therapists in the community.

The Pearson Commission: Implementation Of Recommendations

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which of the 188 recommendations of the Pearson Commission have already been acted upon; what action has been taken on each; which still await a Government decision; and which have they decided not to implement.

I regret that the noble Lord's Question could only be answered at disproportionate expense. He may, however, find it useful to know that the following measures which implement or broadly correspond to the proposals of the Royal Commission, have been taken:

  • (1) Introduction of the current Occupiers' Liability Bill (Recommendations 169–170).
  • (2) Abolition of the actions for loss of services and consortium (Recommendation 22).
  • (3) Abolition of damages for loss of expectation of life (Recommendation 6).
  • (4) Widening of the class of "dependants" under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 (Recommendation 12).
  • (5) Disregarding of benefits derived from the deceased's estate in assessing damages for lost dependancy (Recommendation 38).
  • (6) Abolition of survival of claims for pecuniary loss in the "lost year" for the benefit of the claimant's estate (Recommendation 19).
  • (7) Creation of a power to award provisional damages where there is a chance of deterioration in the medical condition of the plaintiff after the trial (not yet in force) (Recommendations 45 and 46).
  • The following proposal is to be adopted when an opportunity for legislation becomes available: the placing of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme on a statutory footing (Recommendation 171).The following proposals remain under consideration:

  • (1) Recommendations on product liability (Recommendation 133–153).
  • (2) Exemption of fathers from liability for antenatal injury (Recommendations 160).
  • (3) Aviation
  • (a) Ratification of Montreal Protocol 3
  • (b) Limitation of liability
  • (c) Compusory third party insurance of private aircraft (Recommendations 121, 122, 124).
  • (4) No-fault compensation for road injuries (Recommendations 96–120).
  • (5) Introduction of disability income for children from age 2 (Recommendation 166).
  • (6) Mobility allowance to be payable from age 2 (Recommendation 167).
  • (7) Strict liability in relation to exceptional risks (Recommendations 177–188).
  • It has been decided not to implement the following proposals:

  • (1) Extension of the industrial injuries scheme to the self-employed (Recommendation 85).
  • (2) Stict liability for severe damage suffered as a result of vaccination (Recommendation 158).
  • (3) Periodic payments of damages (Recommendations 40–44, 47–54).
  • (4) Modified multiplier for damages (Recommendation 61).
  • If the noble Lord will let me know if any other recommendations are of particular interest to him, I will have enquiries made and write to him.

    Dudley: Midland County Council Services

    asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm the estimate of Dudley Council, given by the Secretary of State for the Environment in a Parliamentary Answer on 23rd November, that it could save 33 per cent. of staff currently engaged in the Midland County Council on services which would be transferred to Dudley.

    The estimate quoted by my right honourable friend was made by Dudley Borough Council and not by Her Majesty's Government.

    Cruise And Trident Missiles: Control

    asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any connection between their unwillingness to seek a dual key arrangement on the United States cruise missiles to be deployed here (without purchasing them), and the willingness of the United States Government to sell them Trident missiles without a dual key arrangement.

    No. The arrangements for joint decision on any use of United States ground-launched cruise missiles based in the United Kingdom in accordance with the NATO decision of December 1979, and the willingness of the United States to supply the United Kingdom with submarine launched ballistic missiles, equipment and supporting services on the basis of the agreement of July 1980 are quite separate. Both arrangements, however, reflect the close co-operation between the United States and the United Kingdom in defence of the Western Alliance.