§ 14. Mr. Pethick-Lawrenceasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the hardship imposed on the deaf by the shortage of batteries which are essential parts of hearing appliances; and what steps he is taking to relieve this shortage?
§ Mr. DaltonI would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Spearman) on 17th December, a copy of which I am sending him. Supplies of hearing-aid batteries are now reported by the manufacturers as reasonably satisfactory, except for one low tension type, the shortage of which is due to urgent Service requirements. I have impressed on those concerned the importance of increasing production, and I hope that there will be an early improvement.