§ 30. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to enable children under 10 years of age, in the same way as children over 10 years of age and 1015 adults, to have free National Health Service spectacle lenses, irrespective of the type of National Health Service frame they choose; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyFrames in the children's standard range are designed to withstand hard wear from young children, and I do not consider it unreasonable that children under 10 should be exempt from the statutory lens charge only when a frame from this range is being used. Adults pay this charge whatever the frame.
§ Mr. RobertsWould my hon. Friend accept that I have received representations from a number of parents and opticians who have expressed dissatisfaction with the position for the under 10s? Would he also accept that the present state of affairs almost amounts to a form of discrimination against the under 10s?
§ Dr. DunwoodyNo. I do not think there is any question of discrimination here, although I accept that there is a difficult problem in that some children may perhaps treat their frames even more roughly than the average child of under 10 years old. It is interesting to note, nevertheless, that 71 per cent. of children provided with lenses have either a National Health Service frame or use the lenses in existing frames. This is a much higher proportion than applies to adults. If my hon. Friend has any specific cases which he cares to draw to my attention, I will be pleased to look into them.