§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost to the National Health Service of making available children's spectacles with toughened glass or plastic lenses.
§ Sir George YoungWhere a clinical need exists, toughened glass lenses for children can already be provided under the National Health Service through the hospital eye service. The additional cost of making them generally available to all children through the general ophthalmic services would probably be about £2 million. Plastic lenses also can be provided through the hospital eye service where a clinical need exists and in December 1978 they were made available through the General ophthalmic services to children with very poor sight. The extra cost of extending their availability generally to all children might be just over £1 million.