§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people had sight tests in all health board areas for which figures are available in(a) the last 12-month period for which figures are available and (b) in each year since 1987–88.
§ Mr. StewartThe information requested for each of the financial years from 1987–88 to 1991–92 is shown in the table. Information for the period October 1991 to September 1992, the last full 12-month period for which information is available, is shown separately in the table.
163W
Health Board 1987–88 1988–89 21989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1 October 1991 to 30 September 1992 Tayside 83,680 90,498 28,103 28,132 32,642 34,802 Western Isles 4,320 4,467 2,043 1,773 2,073 2,035 Scotland Total 1,098,145 1,168,610 475,479 432,885 496,598 519,626 1 One person may have more than one sight test in the period. 2 Since 1 April 1989 free National Health Service sight tests have only been available to children, full-time students under 19, those in receipt of Income Support or Family Credit, the registered blind and partially sighted, complex lens users, those who hold an AG2 exemption certificate from the Health Benefits Unit, diagnosed diabetic or glaucoma sufferers, and close relatives aged 40 or over of glaucoma sufferers. Information is not collected on private sight tests.