§ 85. Sir S. Reedasked 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. BevanIt is not possible to differentiate between imported optical 77W 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.