§ Mr. KnoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will lay regulations relating to consumer safeguards on sight tests; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI intend shortly to lay before the House the Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) Regulations. I have considered carefully comments made in the course of consultation on these regulations and I have decided in the light of those received that all sight tests, whether National Health Service or private must include a refraction, an eye examination and other tests appropriate for individual patients. In addition all patients will be given a copy of their optical prescription to enable them to shop around for spectacles in order to ensure that the competition which has developed in the optical market continues to grow. The regulations will not apply to people having sight tests for employment or insurance purposes or who are resident in hospital or who are referred to their general practitioner for further investigations or treatment. These will be the only exceptions.
In reaching my decision I noted with interest the intention of the General Optical Council to carry out within the next 12 months a wide-ranging programme of investigations in connection with my consultation document on sight tests. I have made it clear that I shall reconsider the sight test regulations in the light of the council's report.