HC Deb 14 November 1988 vol 140 cc483-4W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will exempt students in full-time higher education from charges for dental treatment.

Mrs. Currie

Full-time students under 19 are already exempt from dental charges. Others on a low income can get free treatment or help with the cost depending on their circumstances. We have no plans to extend these arrangements.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in(a) Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire will now be eligible to pay charges for (i) dental examinations and (ii) eye tests.

Mrs. Currie

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Mr. Shersby

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects that the proposed charge for eye tests will be introduced.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I expect that free sight tests under the National Health Service will be confined to certain groups from 1 April 1989. From that date, the level of any fees for those ceasing to be entitled to an NHS test will be entirely a matter for the practitioner's own commercial judgment.