Spectacles

HC Deb 31 March 1949 vol 463 cc1434-5

31. Mr. Gerald Williams

asked the Minister of Health in view of the fact that it takes about four months to make up spectacles to a prescription, what steps he is taking to reduce this time.

Mr. Bevan

Production of spectacles has increased by 52 per cent. since July, 1948. Further expansions of lens and prescription manufacturing capacity will be effective this year.

Mr. Williams

Is the Minister aware that in some cases it takes as long as six months, and as the suggestion is made in a later Question on the Order Paper today that more priority should be given to children, that time may be lengthened to seven or eight months? It is a very serious matter, because people's sight may change in the meantime.

Mr. Bevan

I have asked the opticians to try to deal with cases of special urgency as quickly as possible, and these, of course, would include children who need spectacles badly. There is an inevitable delay in this matter because no one could have estimated such a huge demand for spectacles as we have received.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Does the Minister mean that enterprising aliens who come to this country in order to get free spectacles and free teeth have to wait as long as four months for them?

Mr. Bevan

I should have thought it would hardly have paid an alien to spend four months in Great Britain in order to get a pair of spectacles.

40. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give special priority to all children in respect of applications for spectacles in view of the injury which their eyesight may suffer through early neglect.

Mr. Bevan

Opticians are doing what is possible to give priority to specially urgent cases and such arrangements would certainly extend to urgent cases among children.

Mr. Janner

While appreciating the splendid work that ophthalmic opticians are doing in supplying spectacles, would my right hon. Friend ask them, as infants really need preference, to give priority to infants wherever possible?

Mr. Bevan

If the hon. Member has any instance of children who are unable to obtain priority, I will certainly attend to it.

Captain John Crowder

What facilities have opticians through the right hon. Gentleman's Department for repairing spectacles broken by children? Do they have to go through the whole scheme again and have their eyes tested, or can simple repairs be made?

Mr. Bevan

They can have simple repairs made.