asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received on the increasing prices of hearing aid batteries; and if she will take steps to make these batteries available under the National Health Service.

A very small number of complaints have been made, both to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and to myself. about the price of batteries purchased privately. As my hon. Friend will know, batteries for hearing aids supplied through the National Health Service are issued free of charge. I do not feel it would be justifiable to go further.