Abolition Of Eye-Test Charges

EDM number 276 in 1990-91, proposed by Charles Kennedy on 20/12/1990.

That this House calls on the Secretary of State for Health to urgently review the Government's decision to introduce eye-test charging from April 1989; notes that a recent survey of opticians in the London Borough of Sutton confirmed the findings in other London boroughs which comprised part of the Liberal Democrats nationwide survey published in June; further notes that this latest survey revealed that on average the number of eye-tests have fallen by 29 per cent., that 96 per cent. of opticians have carried out less eye-tests since the introduction of charges, and that 28 per cent. of opticians' practices are in danger of going out of business; and calls on the Government to abolish eye-test charges forthwith in the interest of the nation's health, particularly that of pensioners and all those on low incomes.

This motion has been signed by a total of 42 MPs.