HC Deb 10 June 1975 vol 893 cc223-4
7. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the priorities of her Department in the issue of free behind-the-car hearing aids.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Alfred Morris)

As my hon. Friend will be aware, present priority groups include mothers with young children, people with additional handicaps or an exceptional medical need. By the end of April over 12,000 of the new aids had been issued to these groups. As regards future priorities, consultations are still not yet complete but my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I intend jointly to make a statement shortly.

Mr. Canavan

Will my hon. Friend give due regard to the representations which have been made by the Scottish TUC, by myself and by at least one of my constituents that due priority be given to workers who require these behind-the-ear hearing aids for health, safety and efficiency at work? At present, workers who require such aids have to buy and maintain them at considerable personal expense.

Mr. Morris

We are still consulting the health service authorities. We have consulted the relevant professional and voluntary organisations. I cannot say who will be in the next priority groups, but it seems eminently likely to me that people in employment and those receiving education will be given a very high priority.

Mrs. Chalker

Is it correct to say that the Minister's priorities include not only hearing aids but the need to look at the delays in the provision of other aids, particularly for children, as was cited in a case yesterday? In that case a two-year-old child has had to wait for over a year for an appliance to assist him to walk. Will the Minister look into these delays? They are disastrous in some parts of the country, particularly for small children.

Mr. Morris

The hon. Member has raised an entirely different matter. She is referring to orthopaedic appliances. I was dealing in my reply with the new behind-the-ear hearing aid. I have, however, noted her point and I am making detailed inquiries.

Mr. Alexander Wilson

Will my hon. Friend explain to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) that he came to the Hamilton constituency not so long ago to open the only factory in Scotland which manufactures these much-improved hearing aids? Will he ensure that the hearing aid centres in Britain are allowed to move as fast as their capabilities permit on the question of the priority groups?

Mr. Morris

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that point, and I pay tribute to his constituents who produce the new cosmetic hearing aid for the National Health Service. My hon. Friend has raised an extremely important point. It is likely that some hearing aid centres will be able to move more quickly than others in dealing with priority groups. I shall see that all our resources are used to the best possible effect.