HC Deb 08 February 1974 vol 868 cc492-3W
Mr. Geraint Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of providing free telephone amplifiers for all telephone subscribers known to suffer from defective hearing if the responsibility for providing such hearing aids were assumed by the central Government.

Mr. Alison

The information is not available as the number of these subscribers is not known, but I am advised that about 100,000 amplified hand-sets are in use at present, at an estimated annual rental of approximately £160,000.