§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to launch an information campaign about the availability of free sight tests;
(2) what steps his Department has taken to promote eye care in Britain.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyBetween 35 and 40 per cent. of the population are still entitled to free NHS sight tests. This includes all children and people who are entitled on either medical or low income grounds. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I launched a publicity campaign this February to draw attention to those groups entitled to free NHS sight tests. There are also local publicity initiatives, such as the eye care week organised by Derbyshire family health services authority which took place between 15 and 20 April.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to review the policy of charges for national health service sight tests; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIt is Government policy that those who are able to pay for sight tests should do so, provided that vulnerable groups are protected. In June 1990 we published a report by an independent market research company—NOP—of the number of adults who had had sight tests during the first quarter of 1990. The results indicated that demand for sight tests was returning to normal after an initial drop when entitlement to NHS sight tests was restricted in April 1989. We will be monitoring sight test uptake by questions in the general household survey.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current fee paid to an ophthalmic optician for carrying out a national health service sight test.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe fee paid to an ophthalmic optician for carrying out a national health service sight test is £12.15 from 1 April 1991.