§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) how many independent hearing aid dispensers are at present registered; how many there were each year from 1970 to date; and if they are evenly spread geographically;
(2) how many private registered hearing aid employees there are; and how many there were each year from 1970 to date.
§ Mr. John FraserThe numbers of hearing aid dispensers registered are as follows. About two-thirds are self-employed and about one-third are employees. They appear to be evenly spread throughout Great Britain.
1970 … … … … 746 1971 … … … … 757 1972 … … … … 744 1973 … … … … 736 1974 … … … … 734 1975 … … … … 733 1976 … … … … 766
§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many complaints are received annually 29W by the Hearing Aid Council about independent hearing aid dispensers; and what are the main types of complaint.
§ Mr. John FraserSince January 1970, 708 complaints have been received, ie about 100 annually. The main type of complaint is that made by elderly people who have changed their minds about a hearing aid they have bought, mainly because they cannot afford to pay for the aid, have since qualified for a NHS aid, or have been unable to adjust to wearing one.
§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how standards for qualification of independent hearing aid dispensers differ from those of hospital-based otologists.
§ Mr. John FraserI am sending the hon. Member a copy of the standards of competence for dispensers registered under the Hearing Aid Council Act 1968. Information about qualifications for NHS otologists are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.