Young People (Hearing)

Mr. Speed
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is being sponsored by his Department on the effects upon young people's hearing by excessive noise through loudspeakers or earphones.

Mr. Newton
The Department is not currently supporting any research in this field. The Medical Research Council, which receives grant-in-aid from the science budget of the Department of Education and Science, is the main Government funded body dealing with medical research.