Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/818) (“the Optical Regulations”) which provide for payments to be made by means of a voucher system in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with sight tests and the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 2 and the Schedules to these Regulations amend Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to the Optical Regulations to change the value of vouchers issued in respect of the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 3 makes transitional provision in relation to vouchers issued or completed but not used or accepted before 1 April 2025.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.