Written question asked by Gordon Marsden (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 26 May 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 May 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many residents of Blackpool South aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents of Blackpool, South aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests. [173071] Miss Melanie Johnson: Data for the number of sight tests by constituency or by the number of senior citizens is not collected centrally. The total number of sight tests paid for by Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority in the year 2002-03 for those aged 60 and over was 189,100. The total number of eligible for a free eye test for those aged 60 and over was 429,300. Sight tests cannot be equated to the number of patients. Source: Department of Health Statistics.

Secondary information