These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1986 (“the 1986 Regulations”), which provide for arrangements under which ophthalmic medical practitioners and ophthalmic opticians provide general ophthalmic services under the National Health Service.

These Regulations make amendments to regulation 2 (interpretation) and 14 (sight tests – eligibility) of the 1986 Regulations consequent on the abolition of disabled person’s tax credit and working family credit and their replacement by child tax credit and working tax credit by the Tax Credits Act 2002.

Regulation 3 makes a saving provision for those persons who were entitled to a payment of, or contribution towards, the cost for the supply of an optical appliance or eligible for a sight test by virtue of being in receipt of one of the old tax credits or being a member of a family of such a person.