HC Deb 17 January 2000 vol 342 cc249-50W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000,Official Report, column 4W, on driving licences, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the use of private opticians. [105416]

Mr. Hill

The requirement for the provision of visual field charts is an expensive undertaking adding to the cost of the driving licence as well as creating customer service problems due to the waiting times in NHS out-patients clinics.

Private opticians have therefore been invited to provide the service. This will mean savings of £504,000 in a year on fees and will help to improve turnaround performance of applications where drivers are required to have their visual field tested.

Opticians will be providing reports within three weeks of request as opposed to three months for many hospital clinics.

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