§ Mr. MillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the optical charges, prescription charges and dental charges operative from 1 April with the comparable figures in each case for May 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is as follows:
OPTICAL CHARGES
87WThere have been no charges under the general ophthalmic service since NHS spectacles were replaced by the optical voucher scheme from 1 July 1986. Details of increased voucher values with effect from 1 April 1988 were circulated in the Official Report, 29 February at column 661. Lens charges as at May 1979, in the general ophthalmic and hospital eye service, were as follows:
£ per lens Single vision lens 2.90 Bifocal lens 5.50 Lens of any other description 6.15 The only fixed charges in the hospital eye service at present are maximum charges for lenses, and a charge for contact lenses. The rates from 1 April 1988 are as follows:
£ per pair Maximum charge for single vision lenses 32.00 Maximum charge for other spectacle lenses 52.00 Contact lens charge 25.00
Item May 1979 April 1988 £ £ Prescription charges item charge 00.20 2.60 season ticket: 4 monthly — 13.50 6 monthly 2.00 — annual 3.50 37.50 Dental charges metal based denture with 1–3 teeth 15.00 64.00 4–8 teeth 16.00 69.00 more than 8 teeth 17.00 71.00 more than one metal based denture 30.00 — synthetic resin based denture having 1–3 teeth 10.00 26.00 4–8 teeth 11.00 34.00 more than 8 teeth 12.00 40.00 synthetic resin based full upper and lower dentures 20.00 59.00 maximum charge for other combination of synthetic resin based dentures 20.00 62.00 bridges as for metal dentures 65.00 (acid etch retained) 150.00 (other) crowns, inlays, pinlays 10.00 75 per cent, of cost other treatment full cost up to five pounds 75 per cent, of cost maximum charge for course of treatment 30.00 150.00