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.
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:
It has been decided not to implement the following proposals:
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.