HC Deb 07 June 1995 vol 261 c187W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the cost to the NHS of restoring the right to(a) a free eye test and (b) a free dental check-up. [26567]

Mr. Malone

On the basis that the trend in the number of sight tests apparent before the announcement of changes in November 1987 continued, 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 £110 million.

Based on the prices and charges applying in 1994–95 and assuming that the removal of the charge led to no increase in the number of dental examinations, the annual cost of abolishing charges for dental examinations is estimated to be in the order of £60 million.