1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Optical Charges and Payments and General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 and shall come into operation –
(a)except for regulations 2 and 6 on 1st April 2004; and
(b)regulations 2 and 6 on 6th April 2004.
(2) In these Regulations –
“the Optical Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997(1);
“the Ophthalmic Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986(2).
2. In regulation 8(3)(k)(ii)(3) of the Optical Regulations (eligibility – supply of optical appliances) for “£14,200” there shall be substituted “£14,600”.
3. In regulation 19 of the Optical Regulations (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair) –
(a)in paragraph (1)(b) for “£45·70” there shall be substituted “£46·80”; and
(b)in paragraph (3) for “£11·80” there shall be substituted “£12·10”.
4.—(1) In Schedule 1 to the Optical Regulations (voucher letter codes and face values – supply and replacement)(4), in column 3 (face value of voucher), for each amount specified in column 1 of the Table below (old amount) there shall be substituted the amount specified in relation to it in column 2 of that Table (new amount).
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Old amount | New amount |
| £31·30 | £32·10 |
| £47·60 | £48·80 |
| £64·80 | £71·30 |
| £146·30 | £161·00 |
| £54·00 | £55·40 |
| £68·70 | £70·40 |
| £83·00 | £91·30 |
| £160·90 | £177·00 |
| £160·90 | £164·90 |
| £45·70 | £46·80 |
(2) In Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances) –
(a)in paragraph 1(1)(a) (prism – single vision lens) for “£10·10” there shall be substituted “£10·40”;
(b)in paragraph 1(1)(b) (prism – other lens) for “£12·20” there shall be substituted “£12·50”;
(c)in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for “£3·40” there shall be substituted “£3·50”;
(d)in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for “£3·90” there shall be substituted “£4·00”;
(e)in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses) –
(i)in sub-head (i) for “£51·50” there shall be substituted “£52·80”;
(ii)in sub-head (ii) for “£45·70” there shall be substituted “£46·80”; and
(iii)in sub-head (iii) for “£24·80” there shall be substituted “£25·40”;
(f)in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frames) for “£51·50” there shall be substituted “£52·80”;
(g)in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment – single vision lenses) for “£11·00” there shall be substituted “£12·10”; and
(h)in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment – other cases) for “£27·70” there shall be substituted “£30·50”.
(3) For Schedule 3 to the Optical Regulations (voucher values – repair)(5), there shall be substituted the Schedule 3 set out in the Schedule.
5. The amendments made in regulations 3 and 4 apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the Optical Regulations on or after 1st April 2004.
6. In Regulation 15(2)(k)(ii) of the Ophthalmic Regulations (sight tests – eligibility)(6) for “£14,200” there shall be substituted “£14,600”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 8th March 2004.
L.S.
Dr. J. F. Livingstone
Senior Officer of the
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 8th March 2004.
L.S.
Michael Brennan
Senior Officer of the
Department of Finance and Personnel