To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the factors influencing the take-up rate of free sight tests for people aged 60 and over; and if he will take steps to increase the take-up rate; (203193)

The Department has not made an assessment of the factors influencing the take-up rate of free national health service sight tests for people aged 60 and over or met with the national professional and representative optical bodies to discuss free sight tests for people aged 60 and over. Sight tests continue to increase from 4.1 million sight tests for those aged over 60 in 2003-04 to 4.5 million sight tests for those aged over 60 in 2006-07.