§ Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Health what facilities exist to encourage new entrants in the optical branch of the Health Service; and whether he is satisfied with present day recruitment.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have no evidence of any general shortage of opticians in the Health Service and I understand that recruitment into the profession has improved recently. No special facilities appear therefore to be needed.
§ Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it is now five years since a Royal Commission under Lord Crook recommended the registration of opticians, and that unqualified persons are practising as opticians, especially in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on Government policy on this matter.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt has not up to the present been possible to find Parliamentary
74Wat child welfare centres, including concentrated orange juice and cod liver oil in millions of bottles for the years, respectively, 1938, 1945, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe following is the information available:
time to introduce Government legislation to provide for the registration of opticians, but the hon. Member will be aware that a Bill on this subject has been presented by the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) under the arrangements for Private Members' Bills.