§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to establish an official complaints body to cover all dispensing opticians;
(2) what representations she has received concerning the need for an official complaints body for customers of dispensing opticians.
§ Dr. MawhinneyWe have no plans to set up a body to investigate complaints against dispensing opticians, who are independent practitioners, nor have we received any representations to do so. The bodies representing optometrists and dispensing opticians set up an independent consumer complaints' system—the optical consumer complaints service—in January this year, and all dispensing opticians' practices have been encouraged to become members.