The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations shall come into force on 1st April 2004.

(3) Regulation 2(2) and 2(3) shall come into force on 6th April 2004.

(4) In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998(1).

Amendment of the principal Regulations

2.—(1) The principal Regulations are amended as follows:–

(2) In regulation 1(2)(2) (interpretation), after the definition of “responsible authority” insert ““severe disability element” means the severe disability element of working tax credit as specified in section 11(6)(d) of the Tax Credits Act 2002(3);”.

(3) In regulation 8(3)(k) (eligibility – supply of optical appliances)(4)–

(a) in sub-paragraph (i)(bb) after “disability element” insert “or severe disability element”; and

(b) in sub-paragraph (ii) for “£14,200” substitute “£14,600”.

(4) In regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)(5)–

(a) in paragraph (1)(b) for “£45.70” substitute “£46.80”;

(b) in paragraph (3)(a) for “£11.80” substitute “£12.10”; and

(c) in paragraph (3)(b) for £51.50” substitute “£52.80”.

(5) In Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values – supply and replacement)(6) in column 3 (face value of voucher) for each amount specified in column 1 of the table below (old amount) substitute the amount specified in relation to it in column 2 of that table (new amount).

Column 1	Column 2
Old amount	New amount
£31.30	£32.10
£47.60	£48.80
£64.80	£71.30
£146.30	£161.00
£54.00	£55.40
£68.70	£70.40
£83.00	£91.30
£160.90	£177.00
£160.90	£164.90
£45.70	£46.80

(6) For Schedule 2 (voucher values repair)(7), substitute the Schedule 2 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(7) In Schedule 3 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances)(8)

(a) in paragraph 1(1)(a) (single vision lens with prism) for “£10.10” substitute “£10.40”;

(b) in paragraph 1(1)(b) (other lens with prism) for “£12.20” substitute “£12.50”;

(c) in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for “£3.40” substitute “£3.50”;

(d) in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for “£3.90” substitute “£4.00”;

(e) in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses)–

(i) in sub head (i) for “£51.50” substitute “£52.80”;

(ii) in sub head (ii) for “£45.70” substitute “£46.80”;

(iii) in sub head (iii) for “£24.80” substitute “£25.40”;

(f) in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frame) for “£51.50”, “£45.70” and “£24.80” substitute “£52.80”; “£46.80” and “£25.40” respectively;

(g) in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment – single vision lenses) for “£11.00” substitute “£12.10”; and

(h) in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment – other lenses) for “£27.70” substitute “£30.50”.

Application of regulation 3 to these Regulations

3.  The amendments made by regulation 2(4) to (7) of, and the Schedule to, these Regulations apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the principal Regulations on or after 1st April 2004.

MALCOLM CHISHOLM

A member of the Scottish Executive

St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh

8th March 2004