§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of eye tests carried out on people aged over 65 years since April 1999. [110875]
§ Mr. HuttonFrom April to September 1999, nearly 1.3 million more sight tests were paid for by health authorities in England and Wales than in the equivalent period in 1998. Most of this increase may be attributed to the Government's decision to restore eligibility for National Health Service sight tests to everyone aged 60 and over with effect from 1 April 1999.