Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1991 and shall come into force on 1st August 1991.

(2) In these Regulations, "the principal Regulations" means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1989(2).

Amendment of regulation 20 of the principal Regulations

2. In regulation 20 of the principal Regulations (redemption value of voucher -� replacement or repair)-�

(a)in paragraph (1)(b) for "£32.15" there is substituted "£32.80";

(b)in paragraph (3)(i) for "£8.20" there is substituted "£8.40"; and

(c)in paragraph 3(ii) for "£35.30" there is substituted "£36.00".

Amendment of Schedules to the principal Regulations

3.-(1) In Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations (voucher letter codes and face values) in column 3 (face value of voucher) for each amount specified in column 1 of the Table below (old amount) there shall be substituted the amount specified in relation to it in column 2 of that Table (new amount).

(2) For Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (voucher values -� repair) there is substituted the Schedule 2 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(3) In Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances)-�

(a)in paragraph 1(1)(a) (single vision lens with prism) for "£4.10" there is substituted "£4.20";

(b)in paragraph 1(1)(b) (other lens with prism) for "£5.10" there is substituted "£5.20";

(c)in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for "£2.05" there is substituted "£2.10";

(d)in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for "£2.55" there is substituted "£2.60";

(e)for paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses) there is substituted the following:-�

"(e)in respect of small glasses-�

(i)by £36.00 in the case of supply or replacement of glasses or repair of the whole frame;

(ii)by £32.00 in the case of repair or replacement of the front of the frame; and

(iii)by £17.30 in the case of repair or replacement of a side of a frame;";

(f)in paragraph 1(1)(f) (photochromic lenses) for "£2.05" there is substituted "£2.10" and for "£2.55" there is substituted "£2.60";

(g)in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frames) for "£35.20" there is substituted "£36.00";

(h)in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment -� single vision lens) for "£3.60" there is substituted "£3.70"; and

(i)in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment -� other lenses) for "£19.25" there is substituted "£19.70".

Application of Regulations

4. The amendments made by regulations 2 and 3 of, and the Schedule to, these Regulations apply only in relation to a voucher-�

(a)accepted or used on or after 1st August 1991 pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 18 of the principal Regulations; or

(b)sent to a Health Board pursuant to regulation 14(2)(c) of the principal Regulations in respect of cost incurred on or after that date.

Regulation 3(2)

SCHEDULESCHEDULE 2 TO THE PRINCIPAL REGULATIONS AS SUBSTITUTED BY THESE REGULATIONS

Regulation 20(2) and (3)

"SCHEDULE 2VOUCHER VALUES -� REPAIR

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 ("the principal 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 the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

These Regulations amend Schedule 1 to, and substitute a new Schedule 2 in, the principal Regulations to increase by an average of 2.13 per cent the value of vouchers issued in respect of the cost of the supply and replacement of glasses and contact lenses (regulation 3(1)) and of the repair and replacement of appliances (regulation 3(2) and the Schedule). Regulation 2 makes consequential amendments to regulation 20 of the principal Regulations (redemption value of voucher -� replacement or repair). Regulation 3(3) increases the additional values for vouchers in respect of prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances.