HC Deb 12 April 1988 vol 131 cc114-5W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many(a) eye tests and (b) dental examinations took place in the Nottingham health authority in each year since 1979.

Mr. Newton

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the eye tests which are carried out under the general ophthalmic service and the dental examinations carried out under the general dental service. These are the responsibility of the family practitioner committee. The following table gives the relevant available figures for Nottinghamshire family practitioner committee which includes the area covered by Nottingham health authority.

Nottinghamshire FPC
Year Number of eye tests1 Number of dental examinations
1979 .. 500,900
1980 .. 538,660
1981 .. 570,690

Year Number of eye tests1 Number of dental examinations
1982 .. 591,490
1983 180,578 591,810
1984 195,150 618,580
1985 199,724 635,560
1986 206,524 2652,660
1987 221,955 ..
1 Information is not readily available on eye tests before 1983.
2 The Dental Estimates Board altered its presentation of statistics from a calendar year to financial year as from 1986–87 and this figure relates to the financial year.
..= Not available.