§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will state the total cost, including the running costs of clinics, service costs, training costs and costs of audiometricians, of supplying hearing aids through the National Health Service, expressed per hearing aid supplied;
(2) How many hearing aids were supplied in the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77; and what was the average cost per unit paid to the manufacturer in each of these years.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The numbers of hearing aids issued to National Health Service patients in England, including aids repaired and re-issued, were as follows:
1974–75 304,566 1975–76 350,098 1976–77 374,637 Central expenditure for England, which includes purchases of aids and accessories together with batteries, earmoulds, repairs of aids and stock provisioning, in the three years in question was £2,174,816 for 1974–75, £4,576,201 for 1975–76 and £5,294,090 for 1976–77, respectively.