§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people aged 65 years and over who suffer from sensory impairment, broken down by sense. [149790]
§ Dr. LadymanThe Department collects statistics on the numbers of people in England who are registered with councils as blind, partially sighted, deaf and hard of hearing. The numbers of people over 65 years so registered, as at 31 March 2003, were: blind—121,115; partially sighted—22,165; deaf—19,030, hard of hearing—116,070. Registration is voluntary.