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Mr. Hannam
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the increase in the value of vouchers for glasses in each band from A to F since 1987, in (i) cash terms and (ii) real value, calculated using the GDP deflator.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The voucher scheme was introduced to improve patient choice in where and which spectacles they purchased, and to increase competition in the optical market. Voucher values are set with reference
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
| 1987 | ||||||
| Cash terms (£) | 14·25 | 22·00 | 33·00 | 27·00 | 42·00 | 66·00 |
| Real terms (£) | 14·25 | 22·00 | 33·00 | 27·00 | 42·00 | 66·00 |
| 1 April 1988 | ||||||
| Cash terms (£) | 15·50 | 25·50 | 42·00 | 29·50 | 50·00 | 85·00 |
| Real terms (£) | 14·46 | 23·80 | 39·19 | 27·52 | 46·65 | 79·30 |
| 1 September 1988 | ||||||
| Cash terms (£) | 16·25 | 27·00 | 44·00 | 31·00 | 52·50 | 89·00 |
| Real terms (£) | 15·16 | 25·19 | 41·05 | 28·92 | 42·98 | 83·04 |
| 1 April 1989 | ||||||
| Cash terms (£) | 17·00 | 28·00 | 46·00 | 32·75 | 58·00 | 98·00 |
| Real terms (£) | 14·90 | 24·53 | 40·30 | 28·69 | 50·81 | 85·86 |
| 1 April 1990 | ||||||
| Cash terms (£) | 18·00 | 28·75 | 47·00 | 34·75 | 59·75 | 100·00 |
| Real terms (£) | 14·54 | 23·22 | 37·96 | 28·07 | 48·26 | 80·77 |
| 1 April 1991 | ||||||
| Cash terms (£) | 19·30 | 30·50 | 48·00 | 37·00 | 61·00 | 102·00 |
| Real terms (£) | 14·57 | 23·02 | 36·23 | 27·93 | 46·04 | 77·00 |
| 1 August 1991 | ||||||
| Cash terms (£) | 19·70 | 31·15 | 49·00 | 37·80 | 62·30 | 104·20 |
| Real terms (£) | 14·87 | 23·51 | 36·99 | 28·53 | 47·03 | 78·65 |