§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the availability of phonic ears provided by the National Health Service.
§ Mr. FairgrieveHealth boards are empowered to provide commercial hearing aids if the consultant otologist or audiological physician considers that a patient's clinical needs cannot be met from the standard NHS range. In such circumstances the decision whether any particular commercial aid should be supplied through the NHS is one for the health board and the consultant. The Phonic Ear (which is a trade name for a set of radio equipment comprising a microphone and transmitter and receiver/ hearing aid) is, however, generally regarded as an educational aid.
March 1981 June 1979 Numbers registered as unemployed at employment offices Percentage of total unemployment Numbers registered as unemployed at employment offices Percentage of total unemployment Dundee Scotland Dundee Scotland Dundee Scotland Dundee Scotland Managerial and professional 698 15,551 5.3 5.8 360 8,745 4.8 5.7 Clerical and related 1,240 30,860 9.4 11.6 955 21,096 12.8 13.8 Other non.manual 935 18,561 7.1 7.0 461 10,245 6.2 6.7 Craft and similar (including foremen) 2,064 41,521 15.7 15.7 857 17,131 11.4 11.2 General labourers 4,331 94,853 32.9 35.6 2,867 63,069 38.3 41.2 Other manual 3,908 64,717 29.6 24.3 1,980 32,790 26.5 21.4 TOTAL 13,176 266,063 1000 100.0 7,480 153,076 100.0 100.0