§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will re-examine the design of the standard National Health Service hearing aid with a view to replacing it with one of more sophisticated design.
§ Mr. AlisonSophisticated technical features have been incorporated in a redesigned version of the standard hearing aid which will be put into bulk production next year.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that large sums of money are spent on modern hearing aids by the partially deaf; and if he will allow part of the cost of these aids to be met by the National Health Service as in the case of National Health Service spectacles.
§ Mr. AlisonMy right hon. Friend has no powers under the National Health Service Act to make an allowance towards the cost of hearing aids or spectacle lenses or frames purchased privately. Suitable aids for the relief of most forms of deafness are available without charge under the National Health Service.