HC Deb 13 July 1988 vol 137 cc283-4W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistical or other evidence, excluding that on trends in dental treatment, is available to him to support the Government's assertion that a charge will not deter people from having a sight test.

Mr. Newton

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 11 February 1988 at column351. It is also relevant to note that a study by the Economist advisory group has shown that the great majority of those using spectacle vouchers, "top up" the voucher values by an average of between £14–24 depending on the type of voucher, despite the fact that spectacles are available within voucher values.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with the major multiple opticians on their intentions over charging for sight tests; and what was their response.

Mr. Newton

I and my hon. Friends the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member For Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Lords have met representatives of a number of optical bodies including those representing the major corporate bodies, to listen to their views on the provisions of the Health and Medicines Bill relating to sight tests. The level of fees for private sight tests will be entirely a matter for the companies concerned. We have not received from them to date any specific indication of the fees they propose to charge.