A principal advantage of establishing the .R.C.Psych. diploma is the opportunity this has provided to improve training by the constructive approval of hospitals and units. The word instructive’ is used because the Approval Exercise, sed upon visits by College Panels, is much more an a series of emotionally detached olympian pections. It is a two-way process of exchange of ronnation, ideas and views about the best ways of omoting training in a particular setting. Above all it provides, through the sanction of possible non-approval, a powerful lever and stimulus to Health Authorities, trainers and trainees to generate the resources and to organize these into a programme of training in both the theoretical and practical fields.

It seems reasonably well established that most pregnancies in schoolgirls occur in the context of relationships of some duration, and are not the outcome of casual or promiscuous contact. Further, especially in some ethnic groups and in some indigenous families, the occurrence of pregnancy in a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl is regarded by no means as a disaster, least of all by some of the girls involved who may be delighted and wish to continue with the pregnancy and bear the child.

On 23 March Mr M. Spicer initiated an adjournment debate on the future of St Wulstan’s Hospital, Malvern, which had been recommended for closure by the West Midlands RHA. He emphasized the unique nature of the rehabilitation facilities at the hospital and its outstanding success in that field. In his reply the Minister repeated a previously given pledge that the hospital would not be closed unless it was clearly shown that equivalent facilities could be provided elsewhere, and a special survey would be conducted for this purpose.

Every County has to appoint Coroners from among doctors or lawyers of at least five years’ standing to investigate all violent, unnatural or sudden deaths where the cause is not known. The cost of the service is met from the rates, but the Coroner works for the Crown and is only answerable to the Lord Chancellor. The Coroner is independent of both local and central government, but he is obliged to act within the confines of the law and is subject to orders or judgments of the High Court. He is required to be available at all times or to arrange for a suitably qualified deputy to be available. The Coroner is assisted by a staff of officers, whose number will depend upon the size and population of the district.