HC Deb 04 July 1966 vol 731 cc9-11
24. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Minister of Health whether he will improve pay and conditions of service for

Mr. Robinson

As my hon. Friend no doubt knows, the level of fees is a matter for the Optical Whitley Council. An inquiry into the level of practice expenses is being carried out at this moment as a preliminary to reviewing the fees.

Mr. Will Griffiths

Is it not a fact that in real terms ophthalmic opticians are receiving smaller fees than they did in 1948? Is not one of the consequences of this that the National Health Service content of the ophthalmic service is being subsidised by private fees received by ophthalmic opticians?

Mr. Robinson

I think it is a fact that in real terms the fees are lower, for reasons which are well known to my hon. Friend and to the House. However, perhaps I might tell my hon. Friend that the response of opticians to the inquiry which I mentioned in a previous supplementary answer has been very disappointing. This perhaps suggests that not all opticians regard a revision of fees as a matter of urgency.

The figures are as follows:

those directly concerned with the training of the mentally and physically handicapped, in view of the considerable contribution which modern methods of training can make.

Mr. Loughlin

The pay and conditions of service of these staff are matters for the various negotiating bodies for local authority and hospital staffs.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Would the Minister, whose long-term interest in the mentally handicapped is widely recognised, agree that there is a special case here for priority in view of the success achieved in the last few years in bringing a number of these mentally and physically handicapped people into useful employment?

Mr. Loughlin

This category is broken down into three or four. Some of these persons are working in hospitals and some in other fields. I understand that there has been a substantial increase over the last 12 months. At the present time consideration is being given to a scheme for other workers. While one could argue that this might be a special case, the matter is under consideration anyway.

Miss Pike

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that some of the most worth-while and most dramatic advances are being made in this field at the present time; and, because of the humanitarian and economic value of the work, is it not essential to do everything we can to attract people of the highest calibre into the profession? Will the hon. Gentleman look at the matter very carefully?

Mr. Loughlin

I agree with the hon. Lady on all counts. Some wonderful work is being done. We should certainly like to attract, so far as is humanly possible, all the staff that we require in this field.