§ Mr. Pavitt asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to amend the Opticians Act 1958 to ensure that only a registered ophthalmic optician may own and operate a practice in order to bring this speciality into alignment with dentistry and medicine.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:No. Although the conditions governing the ownership of optical practices differ from those governing dental and medical practices, we are satisfied with the provisions of the Opticians Act 1958 in that they ensure that, in all practices, regardless of the status of the owner, the testing of sight is carried out only by a registered ophthalmic optician or a registered medical practitioner, and glasses are supplied only by or under the supervision of a registered optician or registered medical practitioner.