Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1989 (“the principal 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 the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

These Regulations amend Schedule 1 to, and substitute a new Schedule 3 in, the principal Regulations to increase by an average of 2.13 per cent. the value of vouchers issued in respect of the cost of the supply and replacement of glasses and contact lenses (regulation 3(1)) and of the repair and replacement of appliances (regulation 3(3) and the Schedule). Regulation 2 makes consequential amendments to regulation 20 of the principal Regulations (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair). Regulation 3(2) increases the additional values for vouchers in respect of prisms, tints, photochromic lenses and special categories of appliances.