§ 13. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Health if he has had his attention drawn to the indiscriminate sale of spectacles; and whether he has yet referred the matter to the Central Health Services Council for consideration.
§ Mr. VosperMy attention has been drawn to this practice. The difficulty is to find reliable evidence of harm resulting from it, but if evidence comes to hand I will gladly refer it to the Standing Ophthalmic Advisory Committee, and the Central Health Services Council.
§ Mr. RandallDoes the Minister agree that, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, there is a very real danger in this widespread practice? That being so, is there not a case for an inquiry?
§ Mr. VosperI appreciate that point, but at the moment it is extremely difficult to get evidence of harm resulting. It would be a little difficult for the Ophthalmic Advisory Committee or the Central Health Services Council to come to a decision without further evidence.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWould not the Minister agree that the simplest way out of the difficulty would be to adopt the Labour Party policy and abolish the charges altogether?