§ Mr. Floudasked the Minister of Health when the payments reimbursing opticians for the cost of lenses and frames supplied under the National Health Service will be increased to cover present production costs; and whether the increases will result in increased charges to patients.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonA new scale of payments will operate from 1st August following agreement with the representative organisations. Only the few patients who have to pay for repairs or replacements because of the lack of care or who choose to have, on payment of the extra cost, certain lenses which are more expensive than those prescribed will have to meet the increased charge. In all other cases the increased charge for both lenses and frames will be met by the Exchequer.