§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the dates of each occasion when dental and optical charges were raised since February 1974; and whether he will set out the revenue from dental and optical charges in each year from 1973–74.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe NHS (Charges) Amendment Regulations 1975 (S.I. 1975, No. 1945) changed the system of dental and optical charges with effect from 1 January 1976. Some charges were increased and some decreased.
The NHS (Charges) Amendment Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977, No. 279) increased charges for dentures, dental treatment and NHS lenses, and introduced higher charges for special dental treatment with effect from 1 April 1977. Additionally, charges for routine dental treatment increased automatically following the increase in NHS dental fees approved with effect from 1 October 1978. The maximum charge for such treatment remained 529W unchanged at £5, the upper limit inrtoduced from 1 April 1977. The "current specified cost" which patients pay for NHS frames has increased automatically in line with manufacturers' increased costs in October 1975, January and September 1976, January and August 1977 and May 1978.
The figures for revenue from dental and optical charges since 1973–74 are as follows:
General dental services General ophthalmic services £ million 1973–74 27.3 11.9 1974–75 28.0 13.8 1975–76 33.2 17.4 1976–77 39.8 22.2 1977–78 (provisional) 52.3 23.0