asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) for the last three years for which figures are available, what is the total number of National Health Service spectacle frames supplied and the percentage of these manufactured in the United Kingdom; if he will list the four principal countries from which National Health Service frames are imported together with the quantities involved; and what was the number imported from India in the past year;(2) for the last three years for which figures are available, what was the total value of National Health Service spectacle frames supplied by United Kingdom manufacturers for the United Kingdom market; and what was the total value of imported National Health Ser- vice frames, and the value of National Health Service frames exported by United Kingdom manufacturers.

The estimated number and cost of NHS frames supplied through the general opthalmic services in England and Wales were as follows:

	million	£million
1975	1·6	2·3
1976	1·7	2·6
1977	1·8	2·9

Though hinges are imported, all these frames are made to British standards by approved manufacturers in the United Kingdom. Information is not available about exports of NHS frames, or about the provenance of those private frames which are fitted with NHS lenses under the general ophthalmic services.