Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Payments for Optical Appliances) Regulations 1986 which provide for payments to be made, by means of a voucher system, in respect of the cost incurred by certain categories of persons for the supply of optical appliances supplied following a sight test under the National Health Service in England and Wales.

The values of the vouchers (which bear a letter code according to the type of appliance prescribed or the type of lenses in it) are increased by an average of approximately 5% (regulation 2(1) and the Schedule) and additions for glasses for those with an inter-pupillary distance of 60 millimetres or less and glasses with specially manufactured frames are increased by 5% (regulation 2(2)).