To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many eye tests were funded by the public purse in each region in each of the last two years; and what percentage of those who had eye tests subsequently received (i) spectacles for the first time and (ii) replacement or repairs of spectacles funded by the public purse. (303574)

Information on the number of sight tests paid for by the national health service in England, is provided in Table 1 of the ‘General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales—Year ending 31 March 2009’ report. Information is provided for the years ending 31 March, 2000 to 31 March 2009.

Sight test information by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT) level for the years 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2009 is available in Table B1 of Annex C of the above report.

The number of those who receive spectacles for the first time is not collected centrally.

Table 9 of this report shows the number of vouchers for spectacles or contact lenses paid for by the NHS in England for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2009.

Table 15 of the above report shows the number of items for repair or replacement, in England, for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2009.

Information on the numbers of vouchers and the numbers of items for repair or replacement by SHA and by PCT for the years ending 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2009 is available in Tables B1 of Annex D and A1 of Annex E of the above report.

This report, published on 19 August 2009, has already been placed in the Library and is available online at:

www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/eye-care/general-ophthalmic-services:-activity-statistics-for-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2009

All the reports have been published by The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.