The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2004

Made8th March 2004

Laid before the Scottish Parliament9th March 2004

Coming into force6th April 2004

The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 26, 105(7) and 108(1) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 19781 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2004 and shall come into force on 6th April 2004.

Amendment of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 19862

1

The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) (Scotland) Regulations 19862 are amended as follows.

2

In regulation 2(1)3 (interpretation), after the definition of “residential centre” 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 20024;”.

3

In regulation 14 (sight tests – eligibility)5–

a

in sub-paragraph (2)(k)(i)(bb) after “disability element” add “or severe disability element”; and

b

in paragraph (2)(k)(ii) for “£14,200” substitute “£14,600”.

MALCOLM CHISHOLMA member of the Scottish ExecutiveSt Andrew’s House, Edinburgh8th March 2004

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

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.

Regulation 2(2) inserts a definition of “severe disability element” into the 1986 Regulations.

Regulation 2(3)(a) amends regulation 14 of the 1986 Regulations to extend the description of persons entitled to have their sight tested under general ophthalmic services to include a person who is a member of a family, one member of which is receiving working tax credit with a severe disability element.

Regulation 2(3)(b) amends regulation 14 of the 1986 Regulations by raising the relevant income level of a person or persons at the time an award of a tax credit is made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 from £14,200 to £14,600.