HL Deb 04 December 1989 vol 513 c725

Lord Northfield asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the committee of the General Optical Council that is at present reviewing the optical services has been asked to report on the use of the autorefractor for the testing of eyesight; and

Whether the committee of the General Optical Council that is at present reviewing the optical services is being asked to report on the pricing of spectacles by opticians and, in particular, on the practice of retailing with the reported 300 per cent. or more mark-up on the price paid to the wholesaler; and

Whether the committee of the General Optical Council that is at present reviewing the optical services has been, or will be, asked to take evidence from the public.

Baroness Hooper

The review of the optical services is the responsibility of the General Optical Council. Any questions in connection with the scope of the review or individual subjects under consideration are matters which need to be discussed with them. The General Optical Council issued a press statement in July 1989 explaining the aim of the Optical Services Review and invited people to submit any comments or views they may have on the optical services. I understand that to date there have been no replies from members of the public.