§ Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Health what was the last upward adjustment of examination and dispensing fees payable to ophthalmic opticians under contract to the National Health Service, making due allowance for the reduction in 1951 and the subsequent minor adjustment since; and whether he is satisfied that the present emoluments are reasonable.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIncreases in the various fees have been made on several occasions. The table below shows movements in fees since 1948; it will be seen that there was no reduction in 1951. The amount of the fees is a matter for the Optical Whitley Council who have under consideration claims for further increases.
39W
DETAILED CHANGES IN OPTICIANS' FEES SINCE 1948 July, 1948 May, 1949 January, 1959 September, 1964 s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Sight-testing (a) By an Ophthalmic Optician who does not dispense glasses at all or who does not consider it necessary to prescribe glasses following a sight test … … 15 6 15 6 18 0 19 0 (b) By an Ophthalmic Optician in all other circumstances … … … … 15 6 14 0 16 0 17 0
January, 1960 September, 1964 — July, 1948 May, 1949 National Health Service frames or other reglazed frames New private frames National Health Service frames or other reglazed frames New private frames s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Dispensing (a) General (single vision lenses) … … 25 0 24 0 24 0 19 0 25 0 20 0 (b) General (bifocal lenses) 25 0 31 6 31 6 26 6 33 0 28 0 (c) One lens to applicant's own frame … … 25 0 12 6 12 6 N.A. 13 0 N.A. (d) For each additional pair of glasses where more than one pair are pre scribed … … 25 0 10 0 10 0 8 0 10 6 8 6