HC Deb 11 July 1977 vol 935 cc35-6W
Mr. Onslow

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to the possibility of allowing non-National Health Service manufacturers of children's spectacle frames who can satisfy the British Standards Institution that their products meet or exceed National Health Service standards of quality, workmanship and design, to have these included in the range of frames for which National Health Service lenses can be provided free of charge.

Mr. Moyle

Any United Kingdom manufacturer, supplier or importer who has a frame which satisfies the necessary standards of quality and the design specifications set out in the General Ophthalmic Services Statement and who wants to market his frame under NHS arrangements, can get approval to do so We have recently added a new design specification—previously only in the adult range—to the approved range of children's frames, but to add further specifications would increase substantially the cost of the general ophthalmic services.