§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing, for each type of spectacle frame available from the National Health Service, the date on which it was
CHILDREN'S FRAMES Frame number Description Date of introduction C127 Plain Nickel 5 July 1948 Pad bridge, short loop-end sides Nickel Windsor C223 Pad bridge, half-covered, curl sides C227 Pad bridge, short loop-end sides Plastics (Cellulose acetate) C524 Pad bridge, with reinforced hockey-end sides 1 April 1977 C525 Strong pad bridge, with nickel super-comfort curl sides and reinforced cellulose acetate butts 5 July 1948
OTHER FRAMES Frame number Description Date of introduction Plain Gold Filled 422 Pad bridge, Zylo-tipped hockey-end sides 5 July 1948 422HJ Pad bridge, high joint Zylo-tipped hockey-end sides 423 Pad bridge, light curl sides 423HJ Pad bridge, high joint, light curl sides 721 Half-eye, flat section eyewire, pad bridge comfort cable curl sides 1 December 1955 722 Half-eye, flat section eyewire, pad bridge, Zylo-tipped hockey-end sides Plastics (Cellulose acetate) 524 Pad bridge, with reinforced hockey-end sides 5 July 1948 525 Pad bridge, with gold-filled super comfort curl sides, and reinforced cellulose acetate butts 614 Saddle, flush or inset bridge, with reinforced hockey-end sides 615 Saddle, flush or inset bridge, with gold-filled super-comfort curl sides and reinforced cellulose acetate butts 814 Half-eye regular bridge, with reinforced hockey-end sides 1 December 9955 824 Half-eye, pad bridge, with reinforced hockey-end sides Plastic frames are available in a range of colours.
A number of other frames introduced during the same period have since been dropped from the range while some of those remaining have been modified over the years. Although the range of frames does not attempt to reflect the changing fashion trends all frames are made in a wide range of sizes to meet patients' clinical and fitting needs; they also conform to British Standards specifications.
Any alteration to the range of frames would have substantial financial implications and at the present time does not come high on our list of priorities.