§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had eye tests in each year since 1988; what proportion of these was NHS provided; what proportion was assisted by the voucher scheme, listed by(a) regional health authority, (b) district health authority, on 1 April 1992 boundaries, (c) family health service authority and (d) nationally.
§ Mr. MaloneThe total number of sight tests performed has not been collected centrally since April 1989 when universal entitlement to national health service sight tests was ended.
The number of sight tests paid for by family health services authorities in England since 1988–89 will be placed in the Library. Such information is not available by district health authority.
From a survey carried out in 1993 on behalf of a technical sub-committee representing the Department and the optometric profession, it was estimated that the total number of sight tests performed in Great Britain in 1993–94 would be 13.184 million, 50 per cent. of which would be NHS.
1083WThe number of vouchers paid for will be placed in the Library. Such information is not available by district health authority.