§ 111. Mr. Llewellynasked the Minister of National Insurance whether she is aware that old age pensioners in hostels controlled by Glamorgan County Council have been required by the National Assistance Board to pay a proportion of the 176W cost of new spectacles supplied to them; what steps she proposes to discontinue this practice; and whether she will make a statement.
Mr. B. TaylorThe National Assistance Board do not levy or collect charges for spectacles under the National Health Service Act, 1951. But where the charge is levied on a person who cannot meet it the Board do, in appropriate cases, make a grant to enable him to do so. Grants meeting the charge in full have, in fact, been made to the three pensioners in Glamorgan County Council hostels who have applied for them.