Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued to clinical commissioning groups on the provision of hearing aids free at the point of delivery for patients with mild to moderate hearing loss.

The Department does not issue advice toclinical commissioning groups (CCGs) on hearing aid provision.

Local commissioners are responsible for commissioning the provision of hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss, based on the needs of their local population. In doing so, CCGs take into consideration relevant clinical guidance, which may include guidance from appropriate national bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.