§ Ms Rosie WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the take-up by pensioners in Doncaster, Central of free eye tests after their introduction; and if he will make a statement. [66563]
§ Mr. DenhamAs it is difficult to predict the rate of take-up, an estimate for such a relatively small population would not be meaningful. Nationally, we estimate that, from 1 April 1999, some 6 million to 7 million more people aged 60 and over will become eligible for free National Health Service sight tests and, in 1999–2000, there will be between 2 and 3 million more NHS tests.