§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many vouchers are outstanding for dispatch to patients awaiting part payment for spectacles; and how many patients have been waiting (i) less than one month, (ii) one to two months, (iii) two to three months and (iv) more than three months, for their vouchers.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNational Health Service spectacle vouchers must be issued by the optician immediately following a sight test and are valid for a period of six months. Patients claiming help with the cost of spectacles under the NHS low income scheme must have a valid398W certificate of entitlement from the agency benefit unit for use, with the voucher, when purchasing the spectacles. Claims under the low income scheme cover exemption from, or help towards, a wide range of NHS costs and it is not possible to identify those claims which have been prompted by a need for spectacles. On 11 April 1989 a total of 41,300 new claims under the low income scheme were awaiting processing at the agency benefits unit: this represents 11 days' work. The stockpile of cases involving non-dependants which had accumulated at the unit have now all been cleared. Further information, in the form requested, is not available.