§ 4. Mr. Skinnardasked the Minister of Health whether patients attending eye hospitals are restricted in their choice of optician to the contractor for the hospital from which their prescription was issued.
§ 22. Mr. Draysonasked the Minister of Health whether any emergency system exists for supplying spectacles immediately to users where the loss or breakage of these renders them unable to carry on their normal occupation.
§ Mr. BevanI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle) on 24th February.
§ Mr. DraysonIs the Minister aware that there are people who are anxious to have their spectacles repaired immediately and there seems to be a great deal of delay?
§ Mr. BevanI am trying to arrange for ophthalmic opticians to give priority to cases of special urgency. I do not want to have a rigid scheme, because that would only give rise to a lot of form filling and unnecessary delays. I am hoping to work out a voluntary arrangement.