§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population was eligible for free NHS eye examinations in each of the last 10 available years. [19002]
§ Mr. MaloneBefore April 1989, everybody was eligible. Since that time, when universal eligibility was removed, about 40 per cent, of the population have been eligible.
Since 1 April 1989, the groups entitled to a national health service sight test have been:
- children under 16
- students under 19 in full-time education
- people on income support or family credit and their partners
- holders of exemption certificate AG2
- the registered blind or partially sighted
- those who need certain complex lenses
- diagnosed diabetics and glaucoma sufferers
- close relatives aged 40 or over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers
Since 1 April 1995, people receiving disability working allowance are also eligible to receive free NHS sight tests.