2004 No. 97
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004

Made
Laid before the Scottish Parliament
Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) and (3)
The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 26, 70(1), 73(a), 74(a), 105(7) and 108(1) of, and paragraphs 2 and 2A of Schedule 11 to, the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 19781 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and interpretation1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004.

(2)

Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations shall come into force on 1st April 2004.

(3)

Regulation 2(2) and 2(3) shall come into force on 6th April 2004.

(4)

In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 19982.

Amendment of the principal Regulations2.

(1)

The principal Regulations are amended as follows:–

(2)

In regulation 1(2)3 (interpretation), after the definition of “responsible authority” insert ““severe disability element” means the severe disability element of working tax credit as specified in section 11(6)(d) of the Tax Credits Act 20024;”.

(3)

In regulation 8(3)(k) (eligibility – supply of optical appliances)5–

(a)

in sub-paragraph (i)(bb) after “disability element” insert “or severe disability element”; and

(b)

in sub-paragraph (ii) for “£14,200” substitute “£14,600”.

(4)

In regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)6–

(a)

in paragraph (1)(b) for “£45.70” substitute “£46.80”;

(b)

in paragraph (3)(a) for “£11.80” substitute “£12.10”; and

(c)

in paragraph (3)(b) for £51.50” substitute “£52.80”.

(5)

In Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values – supply and replacement)7 in column 3 (face value of voucher) for each amount specified in column 1 of the table below (old amount) substitute 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

(6)

For Schedule 2 (voucher values repair)8, substitute the Schedule 2 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(7)

In Schedule 3 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances)9

(a)

in paragraph 1(1)(a) (single vision lens with prism) for “£10.10” substitute “£10.40”;

(b)

in paragraph 1(1)(b) (other lens with prism) for “£12.20” substitute “£12.50”;

(c)

in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for “£3.40” substitute “£3.50”;

(d)

in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for “£3.90” substitute “£4.00”;

(e)

in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses)–

(i)

in sub head (i) for “£51.50” substitute “£52.80”;

(ii)

in sub head (ii) for “£45.70” substitute “£46.80”;

(iii)

in sub head (iii) for “£24.80” substitute “£25.40”;

(f)

in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frame) for “£51.50”, “£45.70” and “£24.80” substitute “£52.80”; “£46.80” and “£25.40” respectively;

(g)

in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment – single vision lenses) for “£11.00” substitute “£12.10”; and

(h)

in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment – other lenses) for “£27.70” substitute “£30.50”.

Application of regulation 3 to these Regulations3.

The amendments made by regulation 2(4) to (7) of, and the Schedule to, these Regulations apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the principal Regulations on or after 1st April 2004.

MALCOLM CHISHOLM
A member of the Scottish Executive

St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh

SCHEDULESCHEDULE 2 AS SUBSTITUTED BY THESE REGULATIONS

Regulation 2(6)

“SCHEDULE 2VOUCHER VALUES – REPAIR

Regulation 19(2) and (3)

Column 1

Column 2

Letter Codes – Values

Nature of Repair to Appliance

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Repair or replacement of one lens

10.00

18.35

29.60

74.45

21.65

29.15

39.60

82.45

76.40

Repair or replacement of two lens

20.00

36.70

59.20

148.90

43.30

58.30

79.20

164.90

152.80

Repair or replacement of–

  • the front of a frame

10.25

10.25

10.25

10.25

10.25

10.25

10.25

10.25

10.25

  • a side of a frame

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

  • the whole frame

12.10

12.10

12.10

12.10

12.10

12.10

12.10

12.10

12.10”.

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (“the 1998 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 sight tests and the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(2) inserts a definition of “severe disability element” into the 1998 Regulations.

Regulation 2(3)(a) amends regulation 8(3)(k)(i) of the 1998 Regulations to extend the description of persons entitled to a payment towards the cost incurred for the supply of an optical appliance for which a prescription has been given to include a person who is a member of a family, one member of which is receiving working tax credit with a severe disability element.

Regulation 2(3)(b) amends regulation 8(3)(k)(ii) of the 1998 Regulations by raising the relevant income level of a person or persons at the time an award of a tax credit is made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 from £14,200 to £14,600.

Regulation 2(4) amends regulation 19 of the 1998 Regulations to increase the redemption value of a voucher issued towards the cost of replacement of a single contact lens and to increase the maximum contribution by way of a voucher to the cost of repair of a frame.

Regulation 2(5) amends Schedule 1 to the 1998 Regulations to increase the value of vouchers towards the cost of the supply and replacement of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(6) substitutes a new Schedule 2 in the 1998 Regulations to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the repair and replacement of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(7) amends Schedule 3 to the 1998 Regulations to increase the additional values for vouchers for prisms, tints or photochromic lenses and special categories of appliances.

Regulation 3 provides that the increases contained in regulations 2(4) (7) and the Schedule only apply in relation to vouchers accepted or used on or after 1st April 2004.