§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage of patients entitled to complex lenses at cost price; and, of these, how many have actually received them at this price.
§ Mr. Hayhoe[pursuant to his reply, 7 July 1986]: The overall number of those entitled to help towards the cost of lenses defined as "complex" is not known. However, it is estimated that of the 2 per cent. of patients who were supplied with complex lenses under the general ophthalmic service in the year beginning 1 April 1985, some 5,700 (or 18.5 per cent.) purchased them at cost price.
Information is not available centrally on the number of patients for whom complex lenses were dispensed under the hospital eye service.