§ Dame Jill Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of (a) ophthalmic opticians and (b) dispensing opticians in independent practice in each year since 1978;
(2) if he will list the number of enrolled bodies corporate practising as (a) ophthalmic opticians and (b) dispensing opticians in each year since 1978.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not have information in the form requested. The following table shows the numbers of opticians and enrolled bodies corporate registered with the General Optical Council and the number of practices providing services under the NHS general ophthalmic services. We do not have information about the numbers in other forms of practice.
407W
(England figures as at 31 December except where shown otherwise) 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Establishments of enrolled bodies corporate in the GOS Ophthalmic opticians 1,482 1,504 1,518 1,547 1,630 1,675 * Dispensing opticians 532 524 568 557 535 536 * *Not yet available.