§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of recorded sight tests carried out in Scotland between(a) April 1988 to September 1988, inclusive, (b) October 1988 to March 1989, inclusive and (c) April 1989 to September 1989, inclusive; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 23 January 1990]The information is set out in the table:
Period Number of NHS sight
tests
1 April to 30 September 1988 531,613 1 October 1988 to 31 March 1989 636,997 1 April to 30 September 1989 281,570 Free NHS sight tests were limited to prescribed groups with effect from 1 April 1989. The number of NHS tests carried out between 1 April and 30 September 1989 is not, therefore, directly comparable with NHS figures for earlier periods. The results of a survey on the total number of NHS and private sight tests carried out in Scotland in the first quarter of 1990 compared with earlier periods should be available after Easter.