Opticians And Eye Test Charges

EDM number 845 in 1989-90, proposed by Charles Kennedy on 04/04/1990.

That this House notes the recent survey of 1,712 opticians which found 96 per cent. of respondents have experienced a fall in the number of eye tests carried out since the introduction of charges one year ago; further notes that the average fall recorded by individual opticians was 29 per cent.; expresses great concern that nearly one third of the profession believe they are in danger of going out of business as a result; is alarmed by the implications of these findings for preventative health policy and public safety, respectively; and therefore calls upon Her Majesty's Government to reverse the decision to charge for eye tests with the earliest possible effect.

This motion has been signed by a total of 23 MPs.