HC Deb 10 May 1968 vol 764 cc792-3

(1) It shall be unlawful at any time more than six months after the commencement of this Act for—

(a) any person other than—

  1. (i) a person registered under this Act as a dispenser of hearing aids; or
  2. (ii) a person whose name has been notified to the registrar of the Council and who is undergoing full-time training with a view to being registered as a dispenser of hearing aids and acting under the supervision of a registered dispenser;
to conduct or seek to conduct negotiations with any other person with a view to selling that person a hearing aid for his own use or for the use of a relative or friend;

(b) any person not for the time being registered under this Act as a supplier of hearing aids to employ any person other than—

  1. (i) a person registered under this Act as a dispenser of hearing aids; or
  2. (ii) a person whose name has been notified to the registrar of the Council and who is undergoing full-time training with a view to being so registered,
to conduct negotiations on his behalf with persons with a view to selling them hearing aids for their own use or for the use of their relatives or friends.

(2) A contravention of subsection (1) of this section shall be an offence and shall be punishable upon summary conviction by a fine not exceeding £100.

(3) In this section references to employment include employment as an agent but do not include employment other than for reward or in the anticipation of a reward.—[Mr. Pavitt.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Mr. Pavitt

I beg to move, That the Clause be read a Second time.

The purpose of the Clause is to cover offences by unregistered persons. It is necessary that there should be protection. The Bill provides for extremely high standards of conduct by the people registered as dispensers and suppliers of hearing aids. It is, therefore, necessary that unauthorised and unregistered persons shall not be able to lower the standards at the expense of those who are doing an extremely good job for people who are hard of hearing.

This purpose was originally contained in the Clause which has been omitted, and it does not alter in any case the text which the House has already had a good opportunity of considering.

Mr. A. P. Costain (Folkestone and Hythe)

May I ask for an explanation of the words: who is undergoing full-time training"? Is it the, first day of training or the last day of training?

Mr. Pavitt

The problem we had to consider was a difficult one. I should like to pay tribute to the officials of the Board of Trade who have been most helpful in getting over the difficulties.

The problem is that, when only a registered dispenser is legally permitted to sell, what happens when it is necessary to train a new dispenser? How does he get his training? The same kind of situation arises when a junior doctor is undergoing training under the responsibility of a consultant.

The purpose of the words to which the hon. Gentleman has drawn attention is to provide that the registered dispenser who is doing the training shall be responsible for anything that goes wrong. The person entering the industry may eventually become extremely able and well-qualified, and this provision will give him the opportunity of learning his subject under the guidance and under the complete responsibility of a person registered under the Act.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.

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