§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the implications for the provision of spectacles by opticians in the United Kingdom of the finding by the European Court that the United Kingdom was in breach of its treaty obligations by holding that the provision of spectacles was a medical service.
§ Mr. NewtonThe European Court ruled on 23 February 1988 that the United Kingdom was in breach of its obligations in exempting from VAT certain goods supplied with medical care. The Government have indicated that they will comply with the court's decision and have introduced the necessary amendment to the352W Finance Bill. The amendment if approved is expected to come into effect on 1 September 1988. We are considering the implications for the NHS voucher scheme for spectacles.