Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 December 1997. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 December 1997 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will assess the benefits of self-correcting spectacles in countries with limited optical services.

Answer: Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development of she will assess the benefits of self-correcting spectacles in countries with limited optical services; and if she will statement. [20255] Claire Short: My Department supported the first trials of these spectacles in Ghana. We concluded that spectacles with adaptable focal length could improve the eyesight and productivity of million of poor people. We has recently supported further development of technology. We continue discussions with the inventor on means to make the spectacles available to people in poor countries,

Secondary information