§ Mr. HurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free eye tests have been undertaken for pensioners under the current scheme; and what is the cost of the scheme to date. [127587]
§ Mr. DenhamWe estimate that 2.5 million additional people aged 60 or over received National Health Service sight tests in the financial year from April 1999 and that the cost of our decision to restore eligibility for free tests to this population group is about £40 million per annum.