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Health and Social Care Bill

I particularly welcome Amendment No. 152. Perhaps I should declare an interest as a hearing aid user for over 50 years and as one of the first people lucky enough to be able to afford a digital hearing aid, so I know how valuable they are. I therefore applauded the Government when they introduced a very reasonable range of digital hearing aids through the NHS. But, as the Minister and noble Lords know, waiting times for those aids are very uneven around the country. One must hope that what is being proposed will help to speed up the process. As we have heard, the Hearing Aid Council regulates the independent sector. Under the new scheme, the Health Professions Council will ultimately do the work of both councils. I find it odd that some NHS hearing aid dispensers are not required to have any qualifications, so that will be a plus. I was also amazed to learn that because the Hearing Aid Council is a relatively small body, it has to charge something like £695 a year for registration. It is hoped that that figure will drop to around £60 when the change is made. However, everybody says that the council has done an absolutely marvellous job. No doubt all the professionals would want to add their thanks to those that have already been made. All is going in the right direction, and I am particularly glad to hear that the transition is likely to take place later this year. That must be good news. I should like confirmation from the Minister that when we say that this will take place, it actually will happen and the handover will begin. I seek that confirmation because quite a number of hearing aid dispensers in the independent sector could be employed in the National Health Service and thus reduce waiting lists. The time for that to happen has more than passed, so we need good news on this front. The Government have always argued for an inclusive society. I speak from experience when I say that if there is one area which excludes you, it is not being able to hear the conversation taking place around you. Age is a factor which adds to this problem, even if, like me, you have had a different hearing problem for a long time. The more people are able to live to an older age, the more likely it is that they will have this problem. We all welcome the fact that the merger will benefit clients, and we know that the RNID is very much in favour of it. We also know that of course BSHAA equally welcomes it. Moreover—and one has to say that this does not always happen—all the parties have been working together really well for quite some time.