§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the shortage of hearing aids available for the Bristol area; how many of the components were destroyed in the September, 1968, floods in the West Country; what are the current reserve stocks of Medresco hearing aids available for the area; by how much the normal requirement stocks have been reduced by his Department; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CrossmanThere is no shortage in the Bristol area of the aid most commonly used; about 12 patients in the area waiting for special purpose aids; the entire stock of 9,000 battery screens needed for the manufacture and repair of one of the special aids was lost in the floods in the South East (not in the West Country); at the end of March the two distribution centres in Bristol had combined stocks of 512 aids; stocks have not been reduced by action of the Department.