§ Mr. O'HaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost of extending free optical and dental treatment to all state pensioners. [90698]
§ Mr. DenhamFrom 1April everyone aged 60 and over has been eligible for free National Health Service sight tests. If this group were also made eligible for spectacle vouchers, regardless of income, the additional cost would be about £100 million per annum. Hospital optical treatment is provided free of charge to all NHS patients. The annual cost of extending free dental treatment to all state pensioners is estimated at a minimum of about £100 million assuming no increase in the volume of dental services provided to this age group.