HC Deb 25 July 1978 vol 954 cc697-8W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the operation of section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 in enabling local authorities to assist elderly persons in need of greater safety, comfort or convenience by the provision or assistance towards the provision of a telephone.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Local authorities have powers, under Section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, to make approved arrangements for promoting the welfare of old people. These arrangements can include help with the provision of a telephone. Section 2

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) and the hon. and right hon. Members who are supporting the Early-Day Motion he placed on the Order Paper on 18th July, which seeks to expose the unscrupulous methods which are sometimes employed to deceive old people in these and other ways.

The only free hearing aids available are those supplied by the NHS. We are continuing to phase in the new behind-the-ear hearing aid, which is expected ultimately to benefit 1 million hearing-impaired people. Over half-a-million of the new aids have been issued since the phasing-in programme began.