§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will shortly make an announcement about the specific funding available to the 20 National Health Service trusts currently providing digital hearing aids under the Modernising National Health Service Hearing Aid Services Project throughout the financial year 2002–03 so as to ensure that planning and staff recruitment can be successfully maintained at these sites. [HL1599]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathFunding decisions for 2002–03 will be made in time to allow sites to make plans for delivering services for that financial year. If the modernisation project is successful, we anticipate that by 2003–04 we will be investing up to an extra £25 million in National Health Service hearing aid services.