§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will seek to provide hearing aid batteries, free of cost, to those sufferers who wear aids supplied outside the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWe maintain the view adopted by previous Governments, that it would be unjustified to use scarce resources to supplement the services provided through the National Health Service. Batteries for new NHS behind-the-ear aids will, of course, be supplied free of charge in accordance with this policy.
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§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hearing aids currently in service have been supplied through the National Health Service, and what is her estimate of the number of aids supplied annually by commercial concerns.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisIt is estimated that some 600,000 hearing aids currently in service in England and Wales have been supplied through the National Health Service. The supply of aids other than through the National Health Service is privately transacted and my Department, therefore, does not have information upon which an estimate might be based.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of supply of post-aural hearing aids through the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe new aid is being made available to adults in accordance with a five-year programme, and issues commenced on 1st November 1974. I do not expect to be in a position to report on the rate of take-up for some months yet, but arrangements have been made to monitor progress.