§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Health why the optician at a hospital, of which he has been informed by the hon. and gallant Member for Hull, East, did not show any types or colours of National Health Service spectacle frames to an elderly eye patient, but showed private frames priced from £7 10s. upwards, and eventually sold a pair of spectacles for £4; and what steps he will take to ensure that the full National Health Service for spectacles is available to all hospital patients at the price of £1 10s. 3d.
§ Miss PittThe full range of National Health Service spectacle frames is available to all hospital ophthalmic patients at the appropriate scale of charges—£1 for the lenses and 10s. 3d. for the most popular type of frame. The hospital board concerned is investigating the matter referred to by the hon. and gallant Member and I will write to him when I receive its report.
§ Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health his estimate of the number of children born annually in England and Wales as a result of the practice of artificial insemination.
§ Miss PittI have no information on which to form a satisfactory estimate. As the hon. Member is aware a Committee on Artificial Insemination, appointed by my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Scotland, is engaged in studying this matter and may be expected to review whatever information is available.