Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people applied for free NHS sight test vouchers in each of the last five years; and how many such applications were successful.

Only data on free National Health Service sight tests actually provided is collected. Eligible patients may apply, and receive an NHS sight test, at any optical practice holding an NHS contract, providing the sight test is clinically necessary.

The table attached shows the number of NHS sight tests provided in England between 2009/10 and 2013/14. This information has been extracted from the report, General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England – 2013/14. This report is available on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website at:

http://www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=15062&topics=1%2fPrimary+care+services%2fEye+care+services&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1#top