§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the private care and acute NHS trusts which916W have applied to share in resources for monitoring hearing aid services in 2002–03 and, in respect of each, the sum of money awarded. [45980]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 25 March 2002]: We will announce the national health service trusts that will be taking part in the second wave pilot when a decision has been made. Private hospitals will not be involved in the project. A small pilot project is about to begin to look at the possible role that private sector hearing aid dispensers could have in a modernised NHS hearing aid service.