HC Deb 07 July 1949 vol 466 cc166-7W
30 and 40. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Minister of Health (1) why Mr. A. Clifford, aged 72, of 3/29 Bracebridge Road, Aston, Birmingham, 6, who applied for his spectacles under the Health Scheme in November, 1948, has not yet received them;

(2) why Mr. W. H. Fry, 7A Furnace Lane, Gerrard St. Lozells, Birmingham 19, aged 82, who applied for his spectacles under the Health Scheme last March, has not received them.

Mr. Bevan

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for East Islington (Mr. E. Fletcher) on 19th May.

Mr. Mitchison

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the 11-year-old boy, about whom he has been informed by the hon. Member for Kettering, has not yet got his spectacles, and that another 13-year-old boy, for whom spectacles were prescribed and ordered in September, also has not got them; and whether he will make a statement as to the operation of his priority scheme in these and other cases.

Mr. Bevan

Yes. I understand that the sight of both the boys was tested on 22nd November. The arrangements whereby opticians can give priority to a few of the most urgent cases did not come into general operation until about two months ago and cannot readily be applied to glasses ordered before then. I understand, however, that the optician hopes to get both boys' glasses very soon.