Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 and shall come into operation on 1st August 2012.

2

In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19973.

Amendment of regulation 19 of the principal Regulations2

In regulation 19 of the principal Regulations (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)—

a

in paragraph (1)(b) for “£52.90” substitute “£54.20”; and

b

in paragraph (3) for “£13.70” substitute “£14.00”.

Amendment of the Schedules to the principal Regulations3

1

In Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations (voucher letter codes and face values – supply and replacement)4—

a

omit paragraph 10 (including columns 2 and 3 of that paragraph); and

b

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).

Table

Column 1

Old Amount

Column 2

New Amount

£36.20

£37.10

£55.10

£56.40

£80.60

£82.60

£182.00

£186.50

£62.70

£64.20

£79.70

£81.60

£103.30

£105.80

£200.10

£205.10

£186.40

£191.00

2

In Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances)—

a

in paragraph 1(1)(a) (prism – single vision lens) for “£11.80” substitute “£12.10”;

b

in paragraph 1(1)(b) (prism – other lens) for “£14.20” substitute “£14.60”;

c

in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for “£4.00” substitute “£4.10”;

d

in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for “£4.50” substitute “£4.60”;

e

in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses)—

i

in sub-head (i) for “£59.70” substitute “£61.20”;

ii

in sub-head (ii) for “£52.90” substitute “£54.20”; and

iii

in sub-head (iii) for “£28.60” substitute “£29.30”;

f

in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frames) for “£59.70” substitute “£61.20”;

g

in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment – single vision lenses) for “£13.70” substitute “£14.00”; and

h

in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment – other cases) for “£34.60” substitute “£35.50”.

3

For Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations (voucher value – repair)5, substitute Schedule 3 as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Application of Regulation 2(a), 3 and 44

The amendments made in regulations 2(a), 3 and 4 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 August 2012.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 28th June 2012

seal_r00001Eugene RooneyA senior officer of theDepartment of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby approves the foregoing regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 28th June 2012

seal_r00001John McKibbinA senior officer of theDepartment of Finance and Personnel