HC Deb 13 June 1972 vol 838 cc1237-9
6. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to announce his decision about the provision, under the National Health Service, of an ear-level hearing aid for all deaf people who would benefit from one.

Mr. Alison

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Miss Joan Hall) on 8th May.—[Vol. 836, c. 280.]

Mr. Ashley

I pay tribute to the Secretary of State for Social Services for taking a greater interest in the problems of the deaf than did any of his predecessors in any Government. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that ear-level hearing aids can be manufactured for £8, compared with the figure of up to £80 by commercial manufacturers? Will he investigate the possibility of the Department manufacturing these aids, or through an agent, and will he resist the suggestion that a commercial firm should operate through the Department?

Mr. Alison

We are aware of the hon. Gentleman's figures. We do not rule out the possibility in any future provision of buying aids already developed by commercial interests, but we would want to supply them as an integrated part of the full medical service for the deaf available in the National Health Service.

Dr. Stuttaford

Does my hon. Friend agree that much anxiety and concern are being expressed in both the medical profession and in societies for the care of the deaf at the lack of choice at present for National Health Service patients, whether in terms of a body-worn set or a post-aural set?

Mr. Alison

Yes, I am aware of the disquiet to which my hon. Friend refers, and we are also fully aware of the preference expressed by many people for a head-worn aid.

Mr. Pavitt

Will the hon. Gentleman look again at his previous answer which stated that the provision was three times greater than Medresco, since in fact the figure is only two times greater than Medresco? Will he take account of the psychological factor, which is part of the resistance to effective use, and also the fact that Medresco is being exported privately? Does he not consider that a profit could be made for the Department in exporting post-aural aids?

Mr. Alison

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's point, but we do not under-estimate the therapeutic as well as the cosmetic value of head-worn aids. Indeed, the existence of head-worn aids may encourage some people who may turn down other aids to come into aid use entirely.

19. Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent on research by Medresco on hearing aids in 1970 and 1971.

Mr. Alison

My Department's expenditure on Medresco hearing aid research was £2,250 and £2,650 in 1970 and 1971, respectively.

Dr. Stuttaford

Is not that a very small sum of money to spend on the development of hearing aids for National Health Service patients? Is not the only way to overcome the "rackets" of the private hearing aid world to develop a comparable National Health Service instrument?

Mr. Alison

My hon. Friend asked a Question about the development of the Medresco hearing aid. He will know that the specification and the development of this hearing aid date back to 1946. It has been developed very substantially now. Further sums are being expended on development outside the immediate Medresco range.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Will the hon. Gentleman look further into this? Is it not the case that successive Governments have taken this quesion with insufficient seriousness and that it is necessary to devote much more public money to research to deal with a disability which is not taken sufficiently seriously in any part of society?

Mr. Alison

I have listened with sympathy to the hon. Gentleman's point. I hope that he heard his hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley), who paid a tribute to my right hon. Friend when he said that an unprecedented degree of thought and concern was being devoted to this aspect of disability.

Dame Joan Vickers

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that this is the best instrument for improving the hearing of deaf people?

Mr. Alison

It is not necessarily the best for every kind of condition, but it covers a very wide range of conditions, although we certainly believe that there is scope for improvement.

Mr. Russell Kerr

Will the Under-secretary at least press his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to exempt hearing aids from the provisions of value added tax?

Mr. Alison

That is a further and very much more far-reaching question, which is beyond the ambit of my responsibility.