§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the latest behind-the-ear hearing aids will be generally available under the NHS.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisMy hon. Friend will be aware that we expect to be supplying some one million of the new aids over the phasing-in period. I hope that we shall complete the initial programme of issue in five years, and that the aids will then be generally available. In the meantime I am monitoring the position carefully and am confident that authorities are generally doing all they can to meet the needs of the priority groups announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 17th July.—[Vol. 895, c.569–70.]