§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996, what assumptions underlie the estimate of the savings if the work were undertaken by opticians. [58281]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe savings are based on the difference between the fees payable to doctors and specialists from April 1999 and an estimate on the costs provided by Opticians to undertake similar volumes of tests to an identical standard.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what fee is currently paid to the doctor or eye specialist when the Medical Adviser at the DVLA requests that a driver take a sight test to determine his fitness to drive. [58282]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe statutory eyesight standard for driving is the ability to read a car number plate at 20.5 metres. To establish if a driver's field of vision can meet the standard DVLA will pay a doctor or eye specialist a fee of £12.50 for a report from records or £56.25 if an examination is required.