§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the future of the Hearing Aid Council (Amendment) Bill further to his Department's involvement in the Committee stage of the Bill.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI fully share the disappointment and disquiet expressed by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection in commenting upon the blocking of my hon. Friend's important Private Member's Bill. My Department will be maintaining close contact with the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection about the means of achieving the objectives of the Bill, namely, to prevent the unethical advertising of hearing aids.
In this field, elderly people are shown to be especially vulnerable to unethical advertising, some of which gives the impression that free hearing aids will be supplied or even that my Department is involved in what is being offered for sale.
Manchester Population 490,000 Birmingham Population 1,058,800 Leeds Population 744,500 Rates per 1,000 population Households assisted with: … … … 1. Telephones … … … … 8.6 0.5 0.7 2. Televisions … … … … 0.7 0.1 Nil 3. Personal aids … … … … 2.4 2.7 3.9 4. Adaptations to property … … 2.4 1.2 1.4 Net households assisted … … … … 10.8 3.4 5.7 Persons assisted with holidays … … … 1.2 0.04 2.0