§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the savings to the national health service budget since the abolition of the free eye test; and what would be the cost of restoring the free eye test (i) to all, (ii) to those over 60 years and (iii) those aged 65 years and over.
§ Mr. Malone[holding answer 13 January 1995]: Assuming the trend in sight tests apparent before the announcement of changes in November 1987, it is estimated that £70 million was saved in 1989–90 by restricting entitlement to national health service sight tests.
On the basis that this trend continues, and with the sight test fees remaining at the 1994–95 level, the cost of restoring free sight tests is estimated to be in the order of:
- a) all people: £110 million
- b) those aged 60 and over: £30 million
- c) those aged 65 and over: £20 million