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Mr. Deakins
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to control price rises for batteries used in National Health Service and other hearing aids.
Mr. Alison
Batteries are available free of charge to all users of National Health Service hearing aids. Bulk supplies for this service are purchased on behalf of the Department under fully competitive fixed-price contracts.The prices of batteries obtained privately by hearing aid users are subject to normal competitive market forces.