§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many eye tests have been carried out in the northern region in each year since 1980.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe number of sight tests since 1983–84, paid for by the family practitioner committees which approximate the northern region, are set out in the table. The figures were supplied by the following family practitioner committees:
Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, Gateshead, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
Number of sight tests in Northern Region 1983–84 to 1988–89 Year Number of sight tests 1983–84 576,216 1984–85 592,048 1985–86 599,981 1986–87 627,573 1987–88 679,969 1988–89 740,424 Information is not held on sight tests paid for before 1983–84. Figures for 1989–90 are not yet available.