Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.–(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2009 and come into force on 7th August 2009.

(2) In these Regulations "the principal Regulations" means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998(2).

Amendment of the principal Regulations

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

(2) After Regulation 8(2) insert–

"8(2A).–(1) A person described in paragraph (2) is prescribed as being a person for whom payments are to be made by the Health Board for the supply of an optical appliance for which a prescription has been given in consequence of a testing of sight under the Act.

(2) A person referred to in paragraph (1) is a person who at the time of the payment for the supply of an optical appliance on or after 6th April 2009, is a member of a family–

(i) which satisfies the criteria specified in regulation 8(3)(k)(i); and

(ii) where the relevant income of the person or persons to whom an award of tax credit was made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002(3) is determined at the time of the award to exceed £15,050, but not to exceed £15,276.

(3) A person prescribed in paragraph (1) is an eligible person for the purposes of Parts IV and V".

(3) In regulation 8(4)(c)(4) (circumstances where a person´s resources are treated as less than his requirements), after "and (l)" insert ", and 8(2A)".

(4) In regulation 12(6)(a)(5) (use of vouchers for the supply of optical appliances) for "or (d)", substitute "or (d), or (2A)".

(5) In regulation 12A(1)(6) (notice of entitlement), after "8(3)(k)" insert "or 8(2A)".

(6) In regulation 15(1)(7) (eligibility - replacement or repair)–

(a) in sub-‘paragraph (b) for "or (e)" substitute, "or (e), or sub-‘paragraph (c) of this paragraph"; and

(b) after sub-‘paragraph (b) insert–

"(c) a person referred to in sub paragraph (b) includes a person who at the time of the payment for the replacement or repair on or after 6th April 2009 is a member of a family described in regulation 8(2A)(2).".

(7) In regulation 16(2)(a) and (3)(a)(8) (completion of vouchers for replacement or repair) for "or (d)", substitute "or (d), or (2A)".

(8) In regulation 20(1) (payments to patients in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances) after "8(2)" insert ", 8(2A)".

(9) In regulation 20(2) (payments to patients in respect of the supply, replacement or repair of optical appliances), for "or (d)", substitute "or (d), or (2A)".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 ("the principal Regulations") which provide for payments to be made by means of a voucher system, in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(2) inserts a new regulation 8(2A) to prescribe an additional category of person to whom payments are to be made by a Health Board for the supply of an optical appliance. This category is a person who at the time of the payment for the supply of an optical appliance on or after 6th April 2009 is a member of a family one member of which is receiving working tax credit and child tax credit; or working tax credit which includes a disability element or severe disability element; or child tax credit but is not eligible for workers tax credit, but in each case only where the relevant income of the person or persons to whom an award of a tax credit was made under section 14 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 was determined at the time of the award to exceed £15,050, but not to exceed £15,276.

Regulations 2(3), 2(4) and 2(5) amend regulations 8(4)(c), 12(6)(a) and 12A(1) respectively to include references to regulation 8(2A).

Regulation 2(6) amends regulation 15(1)(b) to include the additional category of persons in those who are eligible for a payment in respect of the replacement or repair of an optical appliance.

Regulations 2(7), 2(8) and 2(9) amend regulations 16(2)(a) and (3)(a), 20(1) and 20(2) of the principal Regulations to include a reference to the new regulation 8(2A).