§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received on age discrimination in applying the 'needs test' system with respect to the provision of digital hearing aids; [107058]
(2) what proposals he has to increase the funding of audiology services within the NHS; [107057]
(3) if he will make a statement on availability of digital hearing aids in the NHS. [107056]
§ Mr. HuttonWe have not received any representations about age discrimination for the supply of digital hearing aids. A project will start in England later this year to trial digital hearing aids for National Health Service patients. This project will help inform our plans to modernise hearing aid services. Detailed proposals for the scheme are being developed, but we anticipate that the project will cover 20 hearing aid departments and that an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 patients will benefit from the scheme. The project is intended to lead to improvements for all NHS patients.