HL Deb 25 March 1965 vol 264 cc724-5

3.9 p.m.

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can say why it is not possible to obtain spectacles with un-tinted polarised lenses.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)

My Lords, I am advised that it is not impossible to obtain spectacles with untinted polarised lenses, but the demand for them is very limited indeed and they are not readily available. I know of no medical indication for the supply of such lenses. Spectacles with lightly-tinted polarised lenses may be prescribed, on the advice of an ophthalmologist, under the National Health Service if they are required for the correction of an optical aberration. It is not a function of the Service to provide glasses of types which are needed solely for occupational or other non-clinical reasons, and if anyone wishes to have such glasses he must make his own arrangements with the suppliers.

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his Answer. Perhaps I may ask him this further question—namely, is he aware that quite a short time ago these spectacles could not be obtained on a prescription, whether under the National Health Service or not, as I have proved by experiment, and the fact that it can be done now is due entirely to the noble Lord's own patient and persistent efforts which lay aside from his normal ministerial avocations? I have put my supplementary question in that form because I wish your Lordships to know of the reason I have to be grateful to the noble Lord.

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord very much for his kindness, and also indeed for sending me a pair of excellent tinted polarised spectacles. But I think I should not in fact take the credit for this. If there has been a change it has been due to the persistence of the noble Lord. But I believe that, in fact, the supply of such spectacles, where there was a clinical need, was always a possibility, provided one went to an ophthalmologist rather than to an optician under the Supplementary Ophthalmic Services.