HC Deb 26 May 2004 vol 421 c1702W
Mr. Gordon Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents of Blackpool, South aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests. [173071]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Data for the number of sight tests by constituency or by the number of senior citizens is not collected centrally.

The total number of sight tests paid for by Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority in the year 2002–03 for those aged 60 and over was 189,100.

The total number of eligible for a free eye test for those aged 60 and over was 429,300. Sight tests cannot be equated to the number of patients.

Source:

Department of Health Statistics.