Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2013 and come into force on 1st April 2013.

(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) In regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)-

(a)in paragraph (1)(b) for "£54.20" substitute "£54.70";

(b)in paragraph (3)(a) for "£14.00" substitute "£14.10"; and

(c)in paragraph (3)(b) for "£61.20" substitute "£61.80".

(3) In Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values supply and replacement) 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 (new amount).

(4) For Schedule 2 (voucher values – repair), substitute the Schedule in the Schedule to these Regulations.

(5) In Schedule 3 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances)-

(a)in paragraph 1(1)(a) for "£12.10" substitute "£12.20";

(b)in paragraph 1(1)(b) for "£14.60" substitute "£14.70";

(c)in paragraph 1(1)(e)-

(i)in sub‑head (i) for "£61.20" substitute "£61.80";

(ii)in sub‑head (ii) for "£54.20" substitute "£54.75"; and

(iii)in sub‑head (iii) for "£29.30" substitute "£29.60";

(d)in paragraph 1(1)(g) for "£61.20", "£54.20" and "£29.30" substitute "£61.80", "£54.75" and "£29.60" respectively;

(e)in paragraph 2(a) for "£14.00" substitute "£14.10"; and

(f)in paragraph 2(b) for "£35.50" substitute "£35.90".

Application of regulation 2

3.  The amendments made by regulation 2 apply only in relation to a voucher accepted pursuant to regulation 12 or used pursuant to regulation 17 of the principal Regulations after these Regulations come into force.

Regulation 2(4)

SCHEDULE

Regulation 19(2) and (3)

"SCHEDULE 2VOUCHER VALUES – REPAIR

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) amends the principal Regulations to increase the redemption value of a voucher issued towards the cost of replacing a single contact lens, to increase the maximum contribution by way of a voucher to the cost of repairing a frame and the maximum supplement for small glasses and special frames.

Regulation 2(3) amends the principal Regulations to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the supply and replacement of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(4) amends the principal Regulations to increase the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 2(5) amends the principal Regulations to increase the additional values for vouchers for prisms, small glasses and special categories of appliances.

Regulation 3 provides that these increases apply only in relation to vouchers accepted or used after these Regulations come into force.