§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many manufacturers of hearing aids have approval to market their hearing aids in the United Kingdom; and what criteria governs their approval.
§ Mr. FreemanNo formal approval is necessary in the United Kingdom for manufacturers to market their hearing aids to their dispensers.
The retailing of hearing aids to the private user is governed by the Hearing Aid Council Act which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
The Department runs an NHS product approval scheme for hearing aids purchased on central contract by Mersey regional health authority to meet large-scale demand throughout the NHS. Currently eight models are approved under that scheme and have to meet the requirements of specifications drawn up by the Department in consultation with professional NHS staff. The detailed requirements run to several pages but the main factors are the levels of maximum gain and maximum output, and the frequency response.
A further 300 to 500 other models of hearing aid are also being marketed in this country at present.