§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations his Department had with representatives of ophthalmologists and opticians, or any other medical advisory sources, before proposing the ending of free sight testing.
§ Mr. NewtonWe undertook a lengthy consultation on primary care, in which ophthalmic, optical and other interested bodies took part. Our subsequent decisions, including the proposal to restrict NHS sight tests to particular groups, reflected our judgment in the light of that consultation about the most appropriate use of resources to support our plans for the further development of primary care as a whole.