HC Deb 03 November 1949 vol 469 cc76-7W
85. Sir S. Reed

asked the Minister of Health how much optical material in the shape of lenses and spectacle frames has been imported for provision under the National Health Act; what are the countries of origin; and what is the cost at the latest known date.

Mr. Bevan

It is not possible to differentiate between imported optical material used for Health Service purposes and that used for other purposes. Total

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING THE PERIOD JULY, 1948, TO SEPTEMBER, 1949, OF LENSES FOR SPECTACLES, GOGGLES, EYEGLASSES AND MONOCLES, AND OF THE FRAMES, OR PARTS OF FRAMES FOR THE MOUNTING THEREOF.
Country of origin Lenses Frames, or parts of frames (Value only)*
Numbers (Single lenses) Value
£ £
Irish Republic 1,000 63 451
Union of South Africa 30,592 2,188 3,473
Canada 14,085 1,040 798
France 597,476 44,505 86,967
U.S.A. 62,982 3,718 2,293
Switzerland 191 48 7,091
Czechoslovakia 13,531 776
Malayan Union 168 19
Australia 1,800 231 4,274
Denmark 2,480 33 18
Germany 397,839 29,731
Netherlands 87,218 5,902 44
Italy 249,698 18,297 1,042
Channel Islands 22,000 1,217 146
India 4 2 69
Greece 150 50
Singapore 114
Gold Coast 10
Belgium 62
Sweden 1,156
Egypt 29
Brazil 2
Austria 40
Siam 2
Sierra Leone 85
Nigeria 18
New Zealand 782
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 224
TOTALS 1,481,214 £107,820 £109,190
*Numbers of frames not available.