§ 2. Captain BERKELEYasked the Minister of Pensions whether lessons in lip-reading are granted as of right to all ex-service men suffering from deafness due to War service; whether he is satisfied that 25 lessons are sufficient to enable unlettered or backward men to acquire proficiency in lip-reading; and whether, if cases can be brought to his notice of men who have been unable to learn lip-reading in the prescribed number of lessons, he will be prepared to increase the number of lessons in such cases?
§ Major TRYONWhere a man is likely to benefit by it, instruction in lip-reading is provided by my Department. After a certain amount of instruction, proficiency in lip-reading is entirely dependent upon regular practice, and it is the considered opinion of my advisers that a course of 25 lessons affords the man of average intelligence ample opportunity of acquiring the faculty. Experience has shown, however, that the unlettered men of less than normal intelligence is incapable of acquiring facility in the art. I shall be pleased to inquire into any individual cases if the hon. and gallant Member will let me have particulars.