Citation, commencement, interpretation and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2001, and shall come into force on 1st April 2001.

(2) In these Regulations unless the context otherwise requires—

• “the 1997 Regulations” (“Rheoliadau 1997”) means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997(2);

• “the 1986 Regulations” (“Rheoliadau 1986”)means the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986(3).

(3) These Regulations shall apply to Wales only.

Amendment of regulation 8 of the 1997 Regulations

2.  In regulation 8 of the 1997 Regulations (eligibility - supply of optical appliances), in paragraphs (3)(c) (receipt of working families' tax credit) and (g) (disabled person’s tax credit), for “£70” substitute “£71”.

Amendment of regulation 19 of the 1997 Regulations

3.  In regulation 19 of the 1997 Regulations (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)—

(a)in paragraph (1)(b), for “£42.80” substitute “£43.90”; and

(b)in paragraph (3), for “£11.00” substitute “£11.30”.

Amendment of the Schedules to the 1997 Regulations

4.—(1) In Schedule 1 to the 1997 Regulations (voucher letter codes and face values - supply and replacement) in column (3) (face value of voucher), for each amount specified in column 1 of the table below substitute the amount specified in relation to it in column 2 of that table.

(2) In Schedule 2 to the 1997 Regulations (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances)—

(a)in paragraph 1(1)(a) (prism - single vision lens), for “£6.10” substitute “£6.30”;

(b)in paragraph 1(1)(b) (prism - other lens), for “£7.00” substitute “£7.20”;

(c)in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens), for “£3.10” substitute “£3.20”;

(d)in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens), for “£3.60” substitute “£3.70”;

(e)in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses), for “£48.20” substitute “£49.40”, and for “£42.80” substitute “£43.90”, and for “£23.20” substitute “£23.80”;

(f)in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frames) for “£48.20” substitute “£49.40”;

(g)in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment - single vision lenses), for “£10.20” substitute “£10.50”.

(h)in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment - other lenses), for “£25.90” substitute “£26.50”.

(3) For Schedule 3 to the 1997 Regulations (voucher values - repair), substitute the Schedule 3 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Amendment of regulation 13 of the 1986 Regulations

5.  In regulation 13 of the 1986 Regulations (Sight Tests - eligibility), in paragraphs (2)(c) (receipt of working families' tax credit) and (2)(g) (receipt of disabled person’s tax credit), for “£70” substitute “£71”.

Use of these Regulations

6.—(1) The amendments made by regulations 2 and 5 of these Regulations apply only in relation to awards of working families' tax credit and disabled person’s tax credit that are made on or after 10th April 2001.

(2) The amendments made by regulations 3 and 4 of these Regulations apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulations 12 or 17 of the 1997 Regulations on or after 1st April 2001.

Regulation 3(3)

SCHEDULESCHEDULE 3 TO THE 1997 REGULATIONS AS SUBSTITUTED BY THESE REGULATIONS

Regulations 19(2) and (3)

SCHEDULE 3VOUCHER VALUES - REPAIR

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 1997 (“the 1997 Regulations”) and the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 (“the 1986 Regulations”). The 1997 Regulations provide for a scheme of payments to be made by Health Authorities and NHS Trusts 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. The 1986 Regulations contain provision for the arrangements for general ophthalmic services under the National Health Service.

Regulation 2 amends regulation 8 of the 1997 Regulations to increase the value of the figure specified therein for the “amount withdrawn” from awards of working families' tax credit and disabled person’s tax credit.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 19 of the 1997 Regulations (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair) to increase the value of an optical voucher issued towards the cost of replacing a single contact lens, and to increase the maximum contribution by way of a voucher to the cost of repairing a spectacle frame.

Regulation 4(1) amends Schedule 1 of the 1997 Regulations to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the costs of the supply and replacement of glasses and contact lenses.

Regulation 4(2) amends Schedule 2 to the 1997 Regulations to increase the additional values for vouchers for prisms, tints, photochromic lenses and special categories of appliances.

Regulation 4(3) and the Schedule substitute a new Schedule 3 in the 1997 Regulations to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the repair and replacement of optical appliances.

The rate of increase is, on average, approximately 2.5%.

Regulation 5 amends regulation 13 of the 1986 Regulations to increase the value of the figure for the “amount withdrawn” from awards of working families' tax credit and disabled person’s tax credit.

Regulation 6 contains transitional provisions.